Diocese of Chichester
Encyclopedia
The Diocese of Chichester is a Church of England
diocese
based in Chichester
, covering Sussex
. It was created in 1075 to replace the old Diocese of Selsey
, which was based at Selsey Abbey
from 681. The cathedral is Chichester Cathedral
and the bishop is the Bishop of Chichester
. It is part of the Province of Canterbury
.
The Bishop of Chichester is assisted by the Area Bishops of Horsham and Lewes who between them oversee the diocese. The Horsham Episcopal Area covers most of West Sussex (apart from Chichester and some parishes to the west of Hove) and some parishes in East Sussex to the north of Brighton and east of East Grinstead, together with one parish in Kent. The Lewes Episcopal Area covers most of East Sussex (apart from some parishes to the north of Brighton, and east of East Grinstead) and a few small areas of Kent.
The three archdeaconries of the diocese are Chichester, Horsham, and Lewes & Hastings. The Archdeaconry of Chichester covers the coastal region of West Sussex, along with Brighton and Hove. The Archdeaconry of Horsham covers the remainder of West Sussex (Horsham Episcopal Area, except the coastal region). The Archdeaconry of Lewes & Hastings covers East Sussex (Lewes Episcopal Area).
The 21 deaneries of the diocese are:
Sussex remained steadfastly heathen until the arrival of Saint Wilfrid
in 681 AD. Wilfrid built his cathedral church in Selsey
, and dedicated it to Saint Peter
. The original structure would have been made largely of wood. The stones from the old cathedral would have been used in the later church. Some stonework discovered in a local garden wall was believed to have come from the palm cross that stood outside the original cathedral, and is now integrated into the war memorial that is in the perimeter wall outside the church.
The cathedral founded at Selsey
was probably built, where the chancel of the old church
still remains, at Church Norton . Selsey Abbey
was the first seat of the South Saxon See. The seat was moved to Chichester in 1075 under William the Conqueror.
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
based in Chichester
Chichester
Chichester is a cathedral city in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, South-East England. It has a long history as a settlement; its Roman past and its subsequent importance in Anglo-Saxon times are only its beginnings...
, covering Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
. It was created in 1075 to replace the old Diocese of Selsey
Selsey
Selsey is a seaside town and civil parish, about seven miles south of Chichester, in the Chichester District of West Sussex, England. Selsey lies at the southernmost point of the Manhood Peninsula, almost cut off from mainland Sussex by the sea...
, which was based at Selsey Abbey
Selsey Abbey
Selsey Abbey was almost certainly built at Church Norton, Selsey, Sussex, England. It was founded in 683AD, and became the seat of the Sussex bishopric, until it was moved in 1075AD to Chichester.-Historical Context :...
from 681. The cathedral is Chichester Cathedral
Chichester Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, otherwise called Chichester Cathedral, is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Chichester. It is located in Chichester, in Sussex, England...
and the bishop is the Bishop of Chichester
Bishop of Chichester
The Bishop of Chichester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Chichester in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese covers the Counties of East and West Sussex. The see is in the City of Chichester where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity...
. It is part of the Province of Canterbury
Province of Canterbury
The Province of Canterbury, also called the Southern Province, is one of two ecclesiastical provinces making up the Church of England...
.
Diocesan structure
The Bishop of Chichester has overall episcopal oversight of the diocese, but is primarily in charge of the Chichester Episcopal Area which covers Chichester and its environs and also the City of Brighton and Hove.The Bishop of Chichester is assisted by the Area Bishops of Horsham and Lewes who between them oversee the diocese. The Horsham Episcopal Area covers most of West Sussex (apart from Chichester and some parishes to the west of Hove) and some parishes in East Sussex to the north of Brighton and east of East Grinstead, together with one parish in Kent. The Lewes Episcopal Area covers most of East Sussex (apart from some parishes to the north of Brighton, and east of East Grinstead) and a few small areas of Kent.
The three archdeaconries of the diocese are Chichester, Horsham, and Lewes & Hastings. The Archdeaconry of Chichester covers the coastal region of West Sussex, along with Brighton and Hove. The Archdeaconry of Horsham covers the remainder of West Sussex (Horsham Episcopal Area, except the coastal region). The Archdeaconry of Lewes & Hastings covers East Sussex (Lewes Episcopal Area).
The 21 deaneries of the diocese are:
- Arundel and Bognor
- Battle and Bexhill
- Brighton
- Chichester
- Cuckfield
- Dallington
- Eastbourne
- East Grinstead
- Hastings
- Horsham
- Hove
- Hurst
- Lewes and Seaford
- Midhurst
- Petworth
- Rotherfield
- Rye
- Storrington
- Uckfield
- Westbourne
- Worthing
History
Christianity was introduced to the British Isles during the Roman occupation. When the Romans departed, there were waves of heathen invasions from northern Europe; these were mainly Angles, Saxons and Jutes. Celtic Christianity was driven, with the Celts, into the remote western parts of the islands. The south of England was settled by Saxons. After the invasions had finished, Roman Missionaries evangelized the south east of England and Celtic Missionaries the rest of the British Isles.Sussex remained steadfastly heathen until the arrival of Saint Wilfrid
Wilfrid
Wilfrid was an English bishop and saint. Born a Northumbrian noble, he entered religious life as a teenager and studied at Lindisfarne, at Canterbury, in Gaul, and at Rome; he returned to Northumbria in about 660, and became the abbot of a newly founded monastery at Ripon...
in 681 AD. Wilfrid built his cathedral church in Selsey
Selsey Abbey
Selsey Abbey was almost certainly built at Church Norton, Selsey, Sussex, England. It was founded in 683AD, and became the seat of the Sussex bishopric, until it was moved in 1075AD to Chichester.-Historical Context :...
, and dedicated it to Saint Peter
Saint Peter
Saint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
. The original structure would have been made largely of wood. The stones from the old cathedral would have been used in the later church. Some stonework discovered in a local garden wall was believed to have come from the palm cross that stood outside the original cathedral, and is now integrated into the war memorial that is in the perimeter wall outside the church.
The cathedral founded at Selsey
Selsey
Selsey is a seaside town and civil parish, about seven miles south of Chichester, in the Chichester District of West Sussex, England. Selsey lies at the southernmost point of the Manhood Peninsula, almost cut off from mainland Sussex by the sea...
was probably built, where the chancel of the old church
St Peter's Church, Selsey
St Peter's Church is the Parish Church of Selsey, West Sussex and dates from the 13th century. The Church building was originally situated at the location of St Wilfrid's first monastery and cathedral at Church Norton some 2 miles north of the present centre of population.-Building:The church was...
still remains, at Church Norton . Selsey Abbey
Selsey Abbey
Selsey Abbey was almost certainly built at Church Norton, Selsey, Sussex, England. It was founded in 683AD, and became the seat of the Sussex bishopric, until it was moved in 1075AD to Chichester.-Historical Context :...
was the first seat of the South Saxon See. The seat was moved to Chichester in 1075 under William the Conqueror.