Chichester Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity & the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Chichester.
The Cathedral is a living, working building which has been at the center of life in Chichester for nearly 1000 years.
There are many historic, large & imposing stained glass windows in Chichester Cathedral, but the most famous is the Chagall Window.
The Marc Chagall window unveiled in 1978 based on Psalm 150:
"O praise God in his holiness...Let everything that has breath praise the Lord."
Marc Chagall Window...More Information
"Detail from stained glass window by Marc Chagall
Detail from stained glass window by Marc Chagall
Marc Chagall grew up in the Jewish communities of Eastern Europe, in a world which was destroyed by the Nazis only to blossom afresh in the free air of the Western democracies. Drawing his inspiration from Jewish religious life, and especially the mystical Hassidic sects that flourished in his home town of Vitebsk, Chagall inspired - and continues to inspire - men and women of all faiths to a greater spirituality and to an understanding of the beauties of creation and the ineffable majesty of the Creator himself.
One of Chagall's particular skills and perhaps the medium in which his work will remain best remembered, is his work in stained glass. The windows that he created for the synagogue of the Hadassah hospital in Jerusalem are inspired by his cultural roots, but interpreted in his own inimitable way. Walter Hussey, Dean of Chichester, saw these windows at a special exhibition at the Louvre in 1960 and they inspired him to commission Chagall to create a window for the cathedral. The hospital windows and the Cathedral window are the only glass by Chagall which are predominantly red; his preferred colour was blue.
The Chagall window in Chichester Cathedral and the window in the church at Tudeley, near Tonbridge, are the only Chagall glass in Britain. At the grander of the two locations (Chichester) there is a single window, whereas at the country church (Tudeley) there are twelve. The two locations are also strongly contrasted in terms of colour. The predominant colour in the window at Chichester is a bright, celebratory, red which also reflects the colours of the Benker Schirmer tapestry nearby. On the other hand, the windows at Tudeley are shades of blue, which concentrates the mind and soul of worshipper and visitor alike on the deepest of mysteries - the fragility of human life and the journey of the soul. The East window at Tudeley was commissioned by Sir Henry d'Avigdor-Goldsmid as a memorial to the loss of his beloved daughter Sarah at sea.
Although the window in Chichester is tucked away in a corner of the cathedral and cannot be seen during regular worship, it is regarded by many as the pinnacle of Hussey's commissions at Chichester; it is certainly the most expensive. Its creation was not without problems, as the 82-year-old Chagall did not speak English and all communication had to be translated by his second wife; and in fact the completed window was not dedicated until after Walter Hussey had retired as Dean. But to see this window lit by the incoming sun lifts the heart, particularly, during the Festival of Flowers held at Chichester every two years where there is often a display of red flowers below the window which makes it seem to go on forever. It is a brilliant visual interpretation of the great song of praise which we know as Psalm 150:
Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord." Text Source: (
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"This magnificent Cathedral has stood at the centre of Chichester for over 900 years. With unique architecture from each century of its life, this Cathedral is both ancient and modern, where original medieval features sit alongside world famous contemporary artworks.
The Cathedral is open every day and all year with free entry. There are free drop-in guided tours, self-guiding leaflets for those who prefer to wander at their own pace, and special trails for children. There is also a superb Cloisters Café and Shop, complete with terrace and walled garden.
Visitors can also enjoy the historic Cathedral Close and the beautiful Bishop's Palace Gardens, both only a few steps away. All are welcome at this splendid Cathedral - a fascinating place to visit.
We do not charge for entry to the Cathedral, as we believe this beautiful building should be available to all. Donations, however, are much needed and greatly appreciated. If you are visiting us then please do contribute; not only does this support the ongoing maintenance of this historic building but it helps us to avoid admission charges too." Text Source: (
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History:
"Chichester Cathedral was built to replace the cathedral founded in 681 by St. Wilfrid for the South Saxons at Selsey. The seat of the bishop was transferred in 1075. It was consecrated in 1108 under Bishop Ralph de Luffa. An early addition was the Chapel of Saint Pantaleon off the south transept (now the Canons' Vestry), probably begun just before an 1187 fire which burnt out the cathedral and destroyed much of the town. That fire necessitated a substantial rebuilding, which included refacing the nave and replacing the destroyed wooden ceiling with the present stone vault, possibly by Walter of Coventry. The cathedral was reconsecrated in 1199.
Chichester Cathedral, circa 1650
In the 13th century, the central tower was completed, the Norman apsidal eastern end rebuilt with a Lady chapel and a row of chapels added on each side of the nave, forming double aisles such as are found on many French cathedrals. The spire was completed about 1402 and a free-standing bell tower constructed to the north of the west end.
In 1262, Richard de la Wyche, who was bishop from 1245 to 1253, was canonised as Saint Richard of Chichester. His shrine made the cathedral a place of pilgrimage. The shrine was ordered to be destroyed in 1538 during the first stages of the English Reformation. In 1642 the cathedral came under siege by Parliamentary troops.
The towers at Chichester have had a particularly unfortunate history because of subsidence, which explains the positioning of the 15th-century bell tower at some distance from the cathedral. The south-west tower of the façade collapsed in 1210 and was rebuilt. The north-west tower collapsed in 1635 and was not rebuilt until 1901. The masonry spire was built in the 14th century and was repaired in the 17th century by Sir Christopher Wren. It survived a lightning strike in 1721 and stood for 450 years before it telescoped in on itself on 21 February 1861, fortunately without loss of life. A fund was set up to raise the £48,000 needed for the rebuilding, and the contributors included Queen Victoria.[6] A replica of the old tower and spire, using the drawings of a previous resident architect Joseph Butler, was rebuilt. The construction was raised by about 6 feet (1.8 m), by Sir George Gilbert Scott and was completed in five years. It now rises to a height of 82 metres. The rubble from the original spire was used to construct West Ashling Chapel." Text Source: (
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Religious affiliation: Anglican
Date founded or constructed: 11th century