CHURCHES
(fn. 1)
ST. PETER THE GREAT
The church of ST. PETER THE
GREAT or SUBDEANERY, in
West Street, was begun in 1850 in the
14th-century style, and was consecrated in 1852. It is
built of stone with a tiled roof, and consists of a nave of
four bays with aisles and a chancel of two bays; the
vestry is at the east end of the north aisle, the porch
and entrance is an addition at the west end of the
south aisle. The fittings are modern, except the
font, which appears to be of the 15th century and
was probably removed from the cathedral. (fn. 2) The
church was designed by Mr. Richard Carpenter,
consulting architect of the cathedral.
The plate consists of a silver chalice with hallmark for 1849; a like chalice with hall-mark for 1870
and inscribed Charlotte Gruggen D.D., 1871.
The registers are as follows: (i) baptisms 1558–
1692, marriages 1558–1679, burials 1568–1679; (ii)
baptisms, marriages and burials 1664–1751 (c); (fn. 3)
(iii) baptisms 1676–1717, marriages 1677–1713,
burials 1676–1680; (iv) baptisms and marriages
1719–1727, burials 1678–1767; (v) baptisms 1727–
1756, marriages 1727–1754; (vi) baptisms 1756–1805;
(vii) marriages 1754–1786; (viii) burials 1767–1811;
(ix) baptisms and burials 1774–1790 (c); (x) baptisms
and burials 1772–1782 (c); (xi) marriages 1787–1811;
(xii) burials 1811–1812; (xiii) marriages 1811–1812;
(xiv) baptisms 1805–1812.
ALL SAINTS IN THE PALLANT
The church of ALL SAINTS IN THE PALLANT,
on the east side of West Pallant, is in plan a rectangular
room 63 ft. 6 in. by 22 ft., with a vestry at the east
end of the north side, added in the 19th century. The
walls are of flint with stone dressings; the north
wall has been covered with rough-cast. The roof is
tiled. The church was built in the first half of the
13th century and restored in the 19th century.
There is no structural division between the chancel
and nave except a rise by a 6 in. step to the chancel, and two more steps to the altar rails. In the east
wall is a 13th-century triple lancet window under a
hooded arch; the outer mouldings of each lancet are
carried on slender shafts. Below the window is
a modern string-course. The vestry, approached
through two pointed arches of poor design, is lighted
by lancet windows and has a doorway in the north wall.
Under the more easterly of the two arches is the
organ. The south wall is pierced by six 13th-century
lancet windows and has a blocked 13th-century doorway at the west end. The north wall is pierced
by five similar windows; possibly there were two
more lancets at the east end which were blocked when
the vestry was built. Below the most easterly window
in the south wall is a trefoil-headed piscina. The west
wall contains a 13th-century single-light window
above the doorway. Over the west window is a small
circular window with trefoil cusps. There is a gallery
over the west end added in the early part of the 19th
century; beneath it is the entrance vestibule. The
ceiling, of mansard form, is modern, and probably
replaces an open timber roof. The north-west corner
is strengthened by a simple 13th-century buttress,
while the south-west corner, to avoid projection into
the street, is curiously splayed and corbelled with two
bosses, much decayed. The fittings are all modern.
There are the following monuments. South wall:
Harriet, 1796, and Emma, 1825, daughters of William
and Sarah Gruggen; William Gruggen, 1828; Sarah
Gruggen, 1848; John Gruggen, 1846; William
Wilton Gruggen, 1846; John Price Gruggen, 1848;
Charlotte Gruggen, 1871; Mary Jane, wife to
William Gruggen jun., 1827; Mary Blagden, widow
of John Price Gruggen, 1895; Emma, daughter of
above, 1909; Rev. Bragg Blagden, M.A., 1781;
Mary Blagden, wife, 1796; George Blagden, eldest
son, attorney-at-law, 1773; Philip, James and
Hannah, children, d. infants; Thomas Sanden, 1706.
North wall: William Tireman, 1833; Catherine,
relict, 1836; Harry Comper, J.P., 1831; Maria
Comper, wife, 1835; Eleanor, daughter, 1820;
Alfred, son, 1826; William Pope, son, 1828; Emma,
Charles and James, children, d. infants; Anne, wife
of James Clayton of Chichester, eldest daughter and
co-heir of George Parker of Chichester, 1743.
Plan of Church of All Saints in the Pallant
There is a small churchyard on the north side of
the church, containing a few old tombstones.
There is one modern bell bearing the inscription:
'O ye spirits and souls of the righteous bless ye the
Lord.' (fn. 4) Two bells were sold in 1783 to raise money
for the repair of the seats. (fn. 5)
The plate consists of a silver chalice with hall-mark
1731 and inscription 'Hunc qualem cunque calicem
huic ecclesiae parochiali Omnium Sanctorum Cicest.
Dono Dedi Hutchins Williams Armr MDCXXXI';
a silver chalice and paten with hall-marks 1881 and
both inscribed 'To the glory of God and the memory
of Henry Comper of Chichester, who fell asleep
Nov. 12 1877'; a silver paten inscribed 'Hanc
patellam ecclesiae huic parochiali Omnium Sanctorum
Cicest. Maria Cholmeley generosa D.D. MDCCXXI';
a silver paten with hall-mark 1733 and makers' mark
I M (James Manners ?) inscribed 'Dedicated to ye
church of All Saints in Chichester for ye service of ye
altar 1734'; and a silver flagon with hall-mark 1747
and inscribed 'Dedicated to ye church of All Saints
in Chichester for ye service of ye altar 1747' and with
a coat of arms. (fn. 6)
ALL SAINTS, PORTFIELD
The church of ALL SAINTS, PORTFIELD, lies
on the east of Church Road opposite the burial ground.
It was built in 1871, of flint with stone dressings, and
has a tiled roof. It is designed in the 13th-century
style, and consists of a nave and chancel with vestry
on the north, a chapel on the south side and a porch
at the west end of the south wall.
ST. ANDREW
The church of ST. ANDREW lies surrounded by a
small churchyard on the north side of East Street.
The plan is simply a rectangular room with a vestry
at the east end of the north wall. It is possible that a
screen once divided the chancel from the nave, but no
vestige is now perceptible, a 6 in. step alone effecting
the division. There is a gallery (fn. 7) over the west end,
beneath which is the entrance. The walls are partly
of stone and partly of flint, finished with roughcast;
the dressings and quoins are of stone; the roof is
tiled. The church was built during the 13th century
and refitted early in the 19th century.
The east window, erected in recent years by Mr.
George Dendy of Chichester, is a triple lancet under
a two-centred arch. In the south wall of the chancel
is a trefoil-headed piscina, and there are two more, one
on each side of the nave. In the north wall of the
chancel is a four-centred arched doorway to a vestry,
added, and later extended, in the 19th century.
The south wall of the vestry also contains a modern
four-centred arched recess for the organ. In the
north and south walls are six windows, three on each
side; from west to east, two of the windows are
pointed arched two-light cinquefoil openings with
four-light trefoil heads; two (slightly different) are
segmental arched two-light trefoil openings with
quatrefoil heads and the other two are lancet windows.
The west window is a two-centred two-light trefoil
opening with quatrefoil heads and pierced sides. The
exterior has gable ends east and west. Over the west
gable is a small weather-boarded bell-turret with
shingled broach-pinnacle and iron weather-vane. The
west doorway is two-centred with splayed but
unmoulded jambs. The west gable end, in which is a
small circular window, is supported by heavy buttresses with tiled slopes. Two early-16th-century
memorial tablets are let into the west and south walls.
That in the south wall is much decayed; but the
tablet in the west wall shows the kneeling figures of a
man, his wife, and sons and daughters on each side.
Below is an inscription, now illegible and perhaps
deliberately defaced.
The ceiling is a modern mansard of wood. The
woodwork of the tower is probably original,
showing indication of an open timber roof. The
font has a modern bowl on an earlier base contemporary with the church; the other fittings are
modern.
There are the following monuments. South wall:
Alderman Collins, 1734; Elizabeth Collins, his wife,
1744; Col. Edward Martin, 1748; William Collins
(the poet), 1759; Hugh Sempill, 1762; Anne, his
widow, wife of Rev. Dr. Durnford, and daughter
of Alderman Collins, 1780; John Cawley, mayor of
Chichester, 1621, which is an elaborate monument
consisting of a bearded demi-figure in a ruff, blue
doublet and red gown, beneath a cusped trefoil canopy,
and flanked by Corinthian columns on plinths supporting a cornice with carved frieze, surmounted by
an armorial achievement, at the base of which is the
inscription 'Time Hath Overtaken Me'; below the
figure is a long inscription probably added later in the
century. (fn. 8) The arms are those of Cawley. Capt.
Henry Chads, R.N., 1799; and Susannah Chads, his
wife, 1795; Thomas Parker, 1740; Thomas and
Susannah Parker, his parents; Mrs. Jane Parker,
1753; Mrs. Mary Parker, 1757; William Wittman,
M.D., Ass. Surgeon and Dep. Inspector, Royal
Regiment of Artillery, 1815; and Elizabeth, relict,
1849; James Kerwood, 1793; Elizabeth Kerwood,
relict, 1802. North wall: Richard Buckner, alderman, 1777; Mary Buckner, his wife, 1772; Capt.
Robert Sandy, Royal Regiment of Artillery, 1768;
Thomas Guy, 1788; Mary Guy, wife, 1774; and
(later addition) Thomas Guy, M.D., 1804; William
Milton, 1752; Frances Milton, his wife, 1757;
William Milton, son, 1783; and Anne, relict of the
last, 1807; John Voyze Hodge, alderman, 1856.
Plan of Church of St. Andrew
There is a modern bell in the bell-turret.
The plate consists of a silver chalice with hall-mark
1749 and inscribed 'For the use of St. Andrew's
Church Chichester, 1752'; a silver paten and
flagon with hall-mark 1842 and both inscribed 'Ad
honorem Dei et in usum Ecclesiae Sancti Andrae
Cicestrensis MDCCCXLII'; a silver flagon; and a silver
gilt spoon. (fn. 9)
The registers are as follows: (i) baptisms and marriages 1568–1708, burials 1563–1708; (ii) baptisms
1711–1753, marriages 1711–1754, burials 1711–1752;
(iii) baptisms and burials 1753–1804; (iv) marriages
1754–1812; (v) baptisms and burials 1809–1812.
ST. BARTHOLOMEW
The church of ST. BARTHOLOMEW, situated in
Mount Lane, south of Westgate and without the
city wall, was built in 1832 to replace the church
which was destroyed in 1642. (fn. 10) It is a Renaissance
building of grey brick with stone dressings and
has a low-pitched slate roof, hipped and with large
overhanging cornice on brackets. The chancel, which
is low and gabled, has been lengthened, while the west
front is stone-faced and divided into three by pilasters,
the central part being pedimental. The doorway is
flanked by statue niches, and above are an arched
window and two circular windows. A small tower
over the west end was taken down in 1929. The
vestry was added in the same style on the north-east
corner.
Internally the nave (48 ft. by 28 ft.) is lit by three
circular-headed windows on each side. (fn. 11) There is a
gallery containing an organ at the west end. The
ceiling is flat. The chancel is lit by two smaller
windows. The vestibule is at the west end under the
gallery.
There is one bell dated 1832 by Thomas Mears.
The plate consists of a silver chalice with hall-mark
1900; a silver paten with hall-mark 1897; a silver
flagon with hall-mark 1897; a chalice, paten and almsdish of Sheffield plate dated 1832. (fn. 12)
ST. OLAVE
The church of ST. OLAVE stands on the east side
of North Street and consists of a chancel 13 ft. 8 in.
by 13 ft. 10 in. and a nave 25 ft. 6 in. by 17 ft. 4 in.
with a square turret over the west end. The walls are
of flint rubble with stone dressings and the roof is
tiled. The church was built probably at the end of
the 11th century and then comprised the existing
nave and a small chancel. Early in the 13th century
the chancel was rebuilt and enlarged to its present
size, and considerable alterations were carried out early
in the 14th century. The church was completely
restored in 1851.
Plan of Church of St. Olave
The 13th-century chancel has been badly set out
and leans to the north. It has a 13th-century threelight window in the east wall and an early 14thcentury window with a trefoil head in each side wall.
The floor of the chancel, which is 12 in. above that
of the nave, is paved with 15th and 17th-century
encaustic tiles. The chancel arch was rebuilt in 1851.
Towards the west end of the south wall of the nave is
a blocked plain round-headed doorway of the original
11th-century church, and farther east on the same side
is an ogee-headed aumbry. Towards the east end of
the north wall is an elaborately carved 14th-century
piscina with an ogee head decorated with crockets
supported on pillars. (fn. 13) In the west wall is a 14thcentury doorway leading to the street, over which is a
14th-century window in a two-centred head, with two
trefoiled lights and a quatrefoil in the head. The
open timber roofs are modern; that of the nave appears
to have been raised 5 ft. In the west front buttresses
were added in the 13th century, and the string-course
and hoods, terminating in well-carved bosses, are of
the same date. The corbels are carved as angels'
heads and shoulders. The square turret is capped by
a slated broach pinnacle, above which is an iron
weather-vane.
The altar-table is late-17th-century work, and the
communion rails are earlier work of that century. In
the nave is an oak chest, dated xlv E.R. (1602) and
elaborately carved, (fn. 14) the centre panel bearing the arms
of the see. The font is mainly modern; the bowl is
supported by a stone cylinder and four columns which
rest upon a stone base, the columns and base being
probably the original 12th-century work; the cover
is modern.
There are the following monuments. In the nave:
Roger Collings, incumbent, 1707; Wilmot, his wife,
1692–3; John Wakeford, attorney-at-law, 1731,
erected by nephew and legatee Wakeford Bridger.
Floor slabs: Francis Doyly, 1711; Mary, his daughter,
Mary, wife of Roger Tupper, 1733; Elizabeth, 2nd
wife of Roger Tupper, 1756; William Lewis,
merchant, 1696; Joane, his wife, 1708; Richard
Young, mayor, 1681; Thomas and Charles Young,
sons, and Anne, daughter, wife to — Tilly.
The following monuments have been moved from
St. Martin's church and are now in St. Olave's. In
the chancel: Martha, daughter of John Dear, town
clerk, 1807; Martha Dear, mother-in-law; Sarah
Dear, sister. In the nave: Richard Braman, mayor,
1698; Mrs. Jane Bragg, daughter, 1733; Mrs. Mary
Eede, her daughter, 1726; Richard Eede, her son,
1741; Mary, his relict, 1745; James Knight, 1788;
Mary Knight, wife, 1775; Kempster Knight, son,
1841; Anne, his wife, 1839; John Brooks, 1808;
Mary Brooks, wife, 1812; William Brooks, 1848;
Charlotte Brooks, wife, 1845; John Dawes, 1786;
Mrs. Jane Dawes, daughter of George Blagden and
Jane his wife daughter of Mrs. Jane Bragg, wife,
1745; Mrs. Anne Dawes, 1800.
The following mural paintings of the 13th century
are said to have been discovered, and since destroyed,
in the east wall of the church: the Coronation of the
Virgin, sixteen figures of saints under canopies, and
two consecration crosses. (fn. 15)
There is one bell in the turret. (fn. 16)
The plate consists of a silver chalice and paten, hallmark 1662, the chalice is inscribed 'Deo et Ecclesiae
Sti. Olavi in civitate Cicester 1663,' and the paten
'Ecclesiae Sti. Olavi'; a silver paten with hall-mark
for 1700 and inscribed 'The gift of Mrs. Katherine
Penfold to St. Ollive's church 1703'; and a silver
flagon with hall-mark 1765 and inscribed 'This piece
of plate with the Branch was given in 1766 by Mr.
Thomas Ludgater, grandson of Mrs. Cathe Penfold
who gave the salver.' The branch or candlestick is not
now in the church. (fn. 17)
The plate removed from St. Martin's consists
of a two-handled cup of 1703, inscribed 'Parochiae
Sci. Martini In Civit. Cicestr.'; a silver flagon
with hall-mark for 1767; and a silver paten
and alms-dish, both inscribed 'The gift of Mrs.
Martha Dear to St. Martin's Church, Chichester,
1802.' (fn. 18)
The registers are as follows: (i) births and baptisms
1642–1698, marriages and burials 1569–1699; (ii)
births and baptisms 1695–1812, marriages 1693–
1754, burials 1699–1812; (iii) marriages 1754–1812.
The following registers have been removed from
St. Martin's and are kept in this church: (i) baptisms
1561–1684, marriages 1569–1684, burials 1569–1683;
(ii) baptisms 1684–1728, marriages and burials
1684–1729; (iii) baptisms 1729–1808, marriages 1729–
1753, burials 1730–1808; (iv) marriages 1762–1813; (fn. 19)
(v) baptisms 1809–1813, burials 1809–1812.
ST. PANCRAS
The church of ST. PANCRAS is without the walls
of the city, at the north corner of Eastgate Square.
The present church was built in 1750–51 on the site
of an earlier church, partially demolished in 1642. (fn. 20)
It is constructed of flint with stone dressings in the
style of the 15th century. It consists of a nave with
recessed chancel and vestries, to which an aisle was
added in the 19th century. The entrance is on the
south or street side, the door being a 19th-century
alteration. At the west end is a two-story tower, with
an embattled parapet and a pyramidical slate roof with
an iron weather-vane. The interior appears to have
been entirely refitted in the latter part of the 19th
century, and contains nothing remarkable. The only
monument is to Sharp Garland, J.P., mayor of
Chichester, 1906.
There is one bell, of 1750, in the tower. (fn. 21)
The plate consists of a silver chalice and paten with
hall-marks for 1750, the gift of Elizabeth Powlett of
Halnaker, widow of William Powlett of St. Leonards
Forest, in 1751. There is also an electro-plated
flagon and cup. (fn. 22)
ST. PAUL
The church of ST. PAUL in the Broyle Road was
built of flint with stone dressings and slate roof in
1836, in the 13th-century style. It consists of a large
rectangular nave with chancel recess and a gallery at
the west end. At the western extremity is a tower of
three stages, beneath which is the porch; there is
also an entrance in the south wall.
The tower contains a bell by Thomas Mears, 1836.
The plate consists of a modern chalice, paten and
flagon of silver and a Sheffield plate cruet. (fn. 23)
ST. PETER THE LESS
The church of ST. PETER THE LESS is on the
east side of North Street. It consists of a chancel 30 ft.
by 19 ft. 8 in. and nave 24 ft. by 14 ft. 3 in., with a
south aisle 5 ft. wide, a south-west tower and a vestry.
These measurements are internal. The walls are of
flint with stone dressings and the roof is tiled. It is
probable that the church was originally built in the
middle of the 13th century and then consisted of the
present nave and a small chancel. Early in the 14th
century it was enlarged by the addition of the south
aisle and tower. The chancel was rebuilt and
enlarged to its present size in the 19th century, when
the whole church was restored. The chancel has a
three-light lancet window under a two-centred arch
in the east wall and a single lancet in each side wall,
all probably reinsertions. In the south wall is a
small modern doorway admitting to the vestry. The
chancel arch has been taken down. The nave has in
the original north wall three modern lancets and a
single lancet in the west wall. The south aisle is now
much altered; the piers of the arcade are embedded in
plaster, but the moulded arches are still visible. The
south wall of the aisle has two lancets, probably reinsertions from the nave wall. Over the west end of
the aisle is the tower, on the ground stage of which are
the entrance doorway and a modern wooden vestibule.
The open timber roof of both nave and chancel is
modern. The west front adjoining the street has
three buttresses, two of which support the small
tower of two stages, the upper story of which has four
windows with louvres. The overhanging parapet
of the tower has been rebuilt. Above is an iron
weather-vane representing a sea-horse. The fittings
are modern.
Plan of Church of St. Peter the Less
There are the following monuments. Nave:
James Gates; Mary Anne Gates, wife, 1841; John
Gates, brother, 1850. Chancel: a brass to Herbert
John Manners, 1917; Edward Cartar, 1703; Elizabeth
Cartar, his wife, 1703; Mary Cartar, daughter,
17—; Katherine, wife to Carew Weekes (M.P. for
Arundel 1702).
There are three bells in the tower: 1, modern; 2,
a mid 14th-century bell with inscription 'Ave Maria';
3, a bell bearing inscription 'Praysed be thy name o
Lord 1580 IW. WR. IC. HC. IN.' (fn. 24)
The plate consists of a silver communion cup
with maker's mark I.S. (John Sutton ?), c. 1675,
inscribed 'St. Peter the Less 1690'; a silver communion cup with hall-mark 1878, the gift of Harriet F.
Frampton, and dated 1879; a silver flagon with hallmark 1898, in memory of Elizabeth Snooke, 7 Aug.
1877; a silver alms-dish and an alms-dish of Sheffield
plate. (fn. 25)
The registers are as follows: (i) baptisms and
burials 1679–1768, marriages 1680–1754; (ii) marriages
1754–1812; (iii) baptisms and burials 1769–1812.
ST. JOHN THE EV ANGELIST
The proprietary chapel of ST. JOHN THE
EV ANGELIST in St. John's Street was built of white
brick at a cost of £7,000 in 1812 from designs by James
Elmes. The building is symmetrical, having galleries
round three sides, reached by staircases north and south
of the entrance vestibule, and the altar at the east end,
behind which are the vestries. The fittings are of
American black birch. Externally the chapel has a
stone plinth and string and a large overhanging wooden
cornice on brackets. The west front has splayed sides,
each with a single-story room, carrying the staircases;
the central portion has a Roman cement façade, with
a pedimented doorway and window set in stone
architrave on balusters. The stone campanile is in
part imitation of the Choragic monument of Lysicrates, and is of excellent design, being cylindrical
with six Corinthian columns supporting an entablature
and spherical roof with an iron weather-vane.
There is one bell in the campanile, inscribed 'T.
Mears of London fecit 1813.'
The plate consists of two communion cups, silver
gilt, with hall-mark 1813, the gift of Sam. Scudamore
Heming in 1813; a silver flagon hall-marked 1815;
and a paten and two alms-dishes of Sheffield plate. (fn. 26)