St Richard of Chichester Church, Chichester

St Richard of Chichester Church stands in Chichester, West Sussex, on the corner of Market Avenue and Cawley Road. It is a Roman Catholic parish church built in 1958 and is a Grade II listed building. The church replaced an earlier Gothic Revival church from 1855, which had itself replaced a room in the Bedford Hotel where Mass was once said. The present building was designed by architects Lawrence Tomei and John Maxwell, who also designed All Saints Church in Hersham. Builders A. Booker and Son from Walberton completed the structure. The church is worth visiting for its outstanding stained glass, the largest scheme by Gabriel Loire in the United Kingdom. Loire used the dalle de verre technique to create a complete figurative narrative across the windows. Inside, the continuous clerestory runs around the nave and transepts, allowing natural light to fill the space. David O’Connell designed the Stations of the Cross as oil paintings, along with the altarpiece, baptistry and six angels in the Blessed Sacrament chapel. The church serves not only Chichester but also nearby communities in Bosham, Selsey, and East Wittering. Visitors find a modern church with a light-filled interior and striking architectural details. The stained glass dominates the space with its vivid colours and intricate designs. The oil paintings of the Stations of the Cross add a traditional element to the contemporary setting. The Blessed Sacrament chapel features six angels, each crafted with care. The church’s location next to St Richard’s Catholic Primary School makes it a familiar landmark in the area.