St Catherine's Church

St Catherine’s Church stands in the centre of Littlehampton on Beach Road, its Gothic Revival design by Matthew Ellison Hadfield rising behind St Catherine’s Road. The building began in 1862 when Augusta Fitzalan-Howard, Duchess of Norfolk, paid for a simple nave and sanctuary. Later phases added an aisle and gallery between 1883 and 1884, again under Hadfield’s direction. The church grew again in 1904 when Pugin & Pugin enlarged the sanctuary and added St Joseph’s Chapel on the north side. Two confessionals were installed along with a new altar and pulpit, the altar crafted by Messrs R. L. Boulton & Sons and the windows by Cox & Barnard from Hove. The chapel received its own entrance and became a quiet place for prayer. Inside, the nave and sanctuary remain plain yet dignified, while St Joseph’s Chapel offers a softer light through its stained glass. The gallery above the west end gives a clear view of the altar below. Outside, the church backs onto St Catherine’s Road, its stonework blending with the town’s quiet streets.