The south coast is blessed with a wonderful cathedral whose spire ascends to a great height and can be seen for miles including out to sea. The name CHICHESTER comes from the Saxon name ‘Cissa’ to which they added the word ‘ceaster’ meaning a group of Roman buildings and thus it became Chichester. The Romans settled here building a fort in 44AD and calling it Noviomagus and evidence of their presence was discovered in the 1960s when they unearthed an astonishing Roman Palace at nearby Fishbourne. It became a Cathedral in 1076 and today houses the most impressive collection of modern art. From a window by Marc Chagall whose colours strike a resonant kaleidoscope across the medieval stonework, a tapestry by John Piper and a painting by Graham Sutherland. It marries the monastic calm with the vibrant modern. Richard of Wych was Bishop from 1245-1253 and was later canonised and became Saint Richard in 1262. The bells are housed in a separate tower and these, numbering 8, will be ringing out for all to hear for ST. GEORGE.
