To mark our 950th anniversary, we are delighted to present Religion, Rebellion & Reformation, an exhibition sharing the story of the Christian faith in Sussex, revealed through people, events and treasures, from 1075 to the present day.
The exhibition, which runs from 14th February - 15th November 2025, features fascinating artefacts from across the Diocese of Chichester, spanning East and West Sussex. Each object reveals remarkable moments and people from history.
Highlights include:
- Bejewelled rings and intricately decorated staffs and croziers owned and worn by the influential bishops of the Middle Ages.
- Comparing a delicate bronze Medieval crucifix, unearthed in a churchyard in Coombes, with a simple wooden cross fashioned from duck board by a WWI soldier in the trenches.
- A pocket-sized Bible donated by the Sussex Regiment, containing a pressed flower from Macedonia, where its owner served on the front line.
- The inspiring story of a group of wealthy and well-connected women who defied societal norms to help establish the first Anglican sisterhood, The Society of St Margaret, in 1854. Read their journals to explore how their tireless work brought lifesaving care to the sick and destitute in East Grinstead and beyond.
- Meeting Reginald Peacock, a Bishop of Chichester and the first theologian to write in English—a bold act that ultimately led to his condemnation as a heretic.
These and many other fascinating artefacts will allow visitors to discover nine centuries of hidden histories and to reflect on the enduring role of faith during times of hardship and change.
Religion, Rebellion & Reformation has been curated by the Cathedral’s Canon Treasurer, the Reverend Canon Vanessa Baron, Visitor Experience Manager Rebecca Lewry-Gray, and designed by Chichester-based design team StudioMoo.
Chichester950
This event forms part of Chichester950, to mark 950 years of religious, cultural, and civic life across the City, District, and Counties, the Diocese and Cathedral have curated a diverse program of events taking place in 2025.
