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Chichester Cathedral will be open for sightseeing from Saturday 1st August.

Taking place from the 11th - 19th September, visitors are invited to re-discover the history of the Cathedral through the return of our Guided Tours, led by our expert volunteers, as well as through a number of ''Show & Tell'' sessions, showcasing artefacts from the Cathedral''s Library.

We''ve also partnered with Chichester BID to develop a new trail on their LoyalFree app. The trail includes locations within the city-centre where you can discover Chichester''s heritage.

It''s not too late to take part. Visit our website to find out more.

The service was sung by the Cathedral Choir under the direction of Charles Harrison, accompanied by Assistant Organist Timothy Ravalde, and featured music by Herbert Howells, Edward Bairstow and Thomas Weelkes (Chichester Cathedral''s Organist and Master of the Choristers in the early seventeenth century).

There's no need to worry if you were unable to join us for the service - it will be repeated at 3.00pm on Sunday 22nd November, and will be available on the BBC Sounds app for 28 days. Listen now >>

The Dean of Chichester, The Very Reverend Stephen Waine, has spoken to Chichester Observer''s Phil Hewitt about the return of public worship to the Cathedral.

In the interview, available to read on The Observer''s website, The Dean spoke about the first services to take place since lockdown began earlier this year:

"The atmosphere was completely different. The silences were really profound... People had come to the church purely because they wanted to pray. They wanted to say their prayers. People were really focused on what they were really there for."

We would like to remind you that the Cathedral remains open for individual private prayer every day, between 12.00 - 4.00pm. We encourage you to plan your visit in advance and have provided some guidance available on our website. A revised schedule of services are now available to attend. Find out more on our website.

Public worship will return to Chichester Cathedral from this Sunday (5th July). We have made a number of changes to ensure that you can join our services safely.

Our first week of services are as follows:

• Sundays: The Book of Common Prayer Service at 8.00am, The Eucharist at 9.30am and 11.00am and Said Evening Prayer at 3.30pm
• Weekdays: Morning Prayer at 8.00am, Mattins at 8.45am and Evening Prayer at 5.00pm

Reserve your seat

In order to support the NHS Track and Trace system, we encourage everyone to use our online booking system. Online ticketing has been generously supported by the Friends of Chichester Cathedral.

For those unable to use the booking system, places have been allocated for those arriving without advance reservation. You will be asked for your name and phone number on arrival for recording purposes.

Visit the booking system to reserve your seat.

Changes to your usual visit

 A number of changes have been made to our services: Communion will be brought to worshippers by the presiding clergy and prayer books will not be provided.

Upon arrival, worshippers are asked to queue at the Cathedral's West Door, using the floor stickers to adhere to social distance recommendations.

This route will be continually monitored to ensure everyone's safety.

Visit the Cathedral''s website for full information and further guidance on visiting for public worship.

Earlier this year the Cathedral Choir, which is made up of six Lay Vicars and 14 Choristers, was silenced as the country went into lockdown.

The return of the Choristers, who are pupils at the neighbouring Prebendal School, follows extensive planning from the Cathedral's music team led by Organist & Master of the Choristers Charles Harrison. Charles said:

"We are fortunate to have received detailed and specific advice from Public Health England and the Church of England Recovery Group about the resumption of services sung by the full Cathedral Choir. Despite the enforced six-month sabbatical, the Choristers are back on excellent vocal form and gliding through the demanding choir schedule with their characteristic professionalism and cheerfulness. Thursday's Evensong will be a special moment, as we share once again our love of music with the wider Cathedral community,

You can hear the Cathedral's Choir at services throughout the week. They will initially sing on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

"Singing is something which is deeply embedded in what it means to be human in expressing our aliveness. Think back to some of the oldest texts in the Old Testament, the songs of Moses and Miriam in Exodus Chapter 15.

And for us today too, the ability to sing is something which we long for together, and rightly so. It''s a way in which we express our confidence in ourselves, in each other.

Even at home I''d encourage you to sing your favorite hymns. Perhaps you''ve got a hymn book at home or even on the Internet - to sing along, to revitalise yourself in your spirit and in your heart"

You can watch the full video Reflection on our YouTube channel.

Update | Consultation & Restructure
Wednesday 22^nd July 2020
 
Over the past 900 years Chichester Cathedral has experienced turbulence and disruption on a number of occasions: from the devastating effects of the Civil War, to the collapse of the Spire. Our present turbulence brings into greater focus our eternal hope - in Jesus Christ, who is the same yesterday, today and for ever (Hebrew 13.8) and our sure foundation, our rock and refuge.
 
Our life here has been significantly damaged by the effects of Covid-19. Sharp reductions across almost all our principal streams of income continue to limit our operations and all the indications are that there will be no sudden return to normality: our pattern of life will be very different here for the foreseeable future.
 
The outcomes we have agreed in response to the Consultation announced in June (outlined below) are a source of pain and regret for us. The posts and people, as well as the activities that we are scaling back, have been an important part of the Cathedral's life and we would not have imagined, only four months ago, that we would be making these difficult decisions today.
 
For now, however, we continue to ask for your prayers and especially for those whose posts are being made redundant as part of this restructuring.
 
As the Cathedral testifies to the mystery of the Cross and Resurrection, so we have hope that, not only can nothing separate us from the love of God in Christ, but also that new possibilities can emerge from what seem like the darkest of times. We are already beginning to discern this, for example, in the ways in which our digital communication can be a means of teaching and encouragement and Chapter is beginning a deeper process of discernment, rooted in the prayer of St Richard, to consider our mission afresh in a world that is much-changed.
 

Summary
 
We thank those who submitted responses to the initial Consultation announcement.
 

Caf?
 
We have made the difficult decision not to re-open the Caf?.
 
With the increase of local competitors and decreasing footfall in Chichester resulting in a steady decline of patrons, the caf? was already an area of concern. Despite significant changes having been made to the way it was run, the summer months had to subsidise the winter months and overall the Caf? was close to losing money.
 
With the huge impact of the pandemic, and long-term social distancing meaning reduced capacity and footfall for the foreseeable future, the existing model for the Caf? is no longer sustainable. To keep it open in these circumstances would cost a substantial amount and running a heavily subsidised Caf? is not the right thing for the Cathedral to do. The Cathedral will continue to provide a hospitable welcome to visitors and worshippers, but will not itself be able to provide refreshments.

Shop
 
The shop, in its current format and location will close. It will return in a new form when the time is right, when the Cathedral is once again welcoming a substantial volume of visitors.
 
When it re-opens it will be relocated into the Cathedral and we plan for it to be volunteer-led with support from a reduced team in the office.
 

 Learning and Engagement
 
Following the Consultation, Chapter accepted that there would be a substantial reduction in the work of the current Learning and Engagement team and that the four existing posts should be made redundant. However, in order to maintain important relationships with schools and visiting families, a new post to sustain and develop the Cathedral's work in this area will be established. This decision is to support the Cathedral's long-term financial sustainability, and also lay foundations for future ministry and engagement with fewer resources.
 
Looking to the future, a new working group will be developed, in association with key partners, to explore how we can support the wider region. A School of Theology and Prayer will also be formed, serving the Diocese and beyond in equipping people for their apostolic life.
 
We will continue to work with partners and charities and, while the pandemic may initially prevent some gatherings, we will host a revised schedule of events and activities if health and safety permits. This includes working with inter-faith partners, Amnesty International, and Stonepillow, to name but a few examples.

In this week''s Reflections The Reverend Canon Dr James Walters, Prebendary of Windham, considers how household dynamics may have changed during this lockdown.

"People have had very different experiences of life in lockdown. For some it has been a frantic time of trying to look after children in cramped conditions while still working full time. For others it has been a quiet, reflective time of reading and gardening.

But for all of us over the last few weeks, life has focussed on our household.

... and whether we live alone or with friends, in a family group or in community, Christians should do their best to order the household in a way that takes account of everyone within it, as well as looking generously and hospitably to those outside."

Visit our website to watch the full video.

Chichester Cathedral and The Bishop of Chichester, The Right Reverend Dr Martin Warner, are delivering a schedule of live-streamed services for Holy Week 2020.

These online services will be taking place on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday - supported by the release of reflective audio services now available on the Cathedral website.

Dean of Chichester, The Very Reverend Stephen Waine said:

"We are delighted to be working with the Bishop to stream Holy Week services across the Diocese of Chichester and beyond. In these unprecedented times, it is important to develop new ways to continue in our duty, providing people at home with resources and access to worship."

All live-streamed services for Holy Week 2020, including a recording of Palm Sunday''s Eucharist service, can be viewed on the ''Live Service'' page of Cathedral website, as well as the website of the Diocese of Chichester.

On Saturday 1st August Chichester Cathedral opened for sightseeing. On the day, The Minister for Sports, Heritage and Tourism, Nigel Huddleston MP, visited the Cathedral.
 
The Minister was given a tour of the Cathedral by Communar & Executive Director David Coulthard. David said:
 
"We were delighted to welcome the Minister to the Cathedral. Our team have worked hard to ensure that the public can visit us safely, and today we had an opportunity to discuss with the Minister the measures we have taken in response to COVID-19 guidelines.
 
We also spoke about how the pandemic has impacted life at this Cathedral and other churches, and ways to maintain public safety and to support places of worship, attractions and businesses across our region."
 
Chichester Cathedral is open every day, 10.00am - 4.00pm. Space is set aside for private prayer and reflection and there is a revised schedule of services. #KnowBeforeYouGo and visit our website for further guidance: www.chichestercathedral.org.uk

We have made a number of changes to ensure you can visit us safely - and we are incredibly grateful to our volunteer Welcoming Team. In the coming week we will share with you new information about registering online prior to your visit for Track & Trace, therefore enabling you to access the Cathedral with greater ease - whilst also supporting the effort in limiting the spread of Covid-19.

Until then, we hope you enjoy this E-Newsletter where you can find updates on Cathedral life, as well as details of upcoming services and activities.

We have made a number of changes to ensure you can visit us safely - including introducing this new pre-registering system which enables you to visit the Cathedral with greater ease and quicker access.

Once you register, simply let one of our Welcome team know upon your arrival. Those attending our 9.30am and 11.00am services on Sundays can also pre-register their details online.

Further guidance can be found on our website for those looking to plan their visit.

We look forward to welcoming you soon, and until then, we hope you enjoy this E-Newsletter which includes news of the return of the Cathedral''s Bell Ringers and the upcoming Heritage Open Days.

In this week''s Reflections The Treasurer of Chichester Cathedral, The Reverend Canon Stephen Ferns, asks: what can we as individuals do in these unprecedented times?

"Firstly we can pray for, and we can think about people - other people. Our concerns must be for others: the ill, the vulnerable and those who care for them. It is also an opportunity for be inventive and to do new things. We may have never given to a Foodbank for instance, supported a charity, or homeless people. May now be the time to do so.

Secondly, we can reflect on what has been going wrong over these years with our world. How we have been using and abusing nature with disastrous ecological consequences. How we have been content to have the poor with us always, without addressing or alleviating their poverty. 

If nothing else, this pandemic helps us to recognise our common humanity."

Follow the link below to watch the full video. To explore the resources for worship, reflection and learning developed by the Cathedral team, please visit our website.

On Monday 15th June the doors of Chichester Cathedral were opened for individual private prayer.
 

We have made a number of changes to ensure that you can visit us safely, including revised opening hours of 12.00 - 4.00pm. There is also a new route of access, restricted to the Cathedral Nave and side Chapels. 

Whilst there is no public worship, votive stands will be available for you to light a candle. 

We''ve outlined some key information to help you plan your visit below.

Within this Newsletter you will also find information about our new Virtual Tour to the historic Shrine of Saint Richard, details of our new county-wide arts festival and resources for worship and prayer at home.
 

"Following guidance from the Church of England, as of 17th March 2020 we will no longer be holding our scheduled daily services until further notice. In practical terms, we are both monitoring and responding to the Government's guidance in light of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The Cathedral is also following the specific recommendations for churches published by the Church of England, which are updated according to the latest Government advice.

The doors of Chichester Cathedral remain open for private prayer. The Cathedral has been at the heart of the community for 900 years, and we will not only continue to be a centre of the Christian faith, but a place for support, peace and reflection which is open to everybody.

Our role to serve the community extends beyond the Cathedral itself in the practical support we will offer to our existing partners, in particular the Chichester District Food Bank which is in real need of donations for those that rely on its services - one of its donation points is located in the Cathedral.

We are holding those who have contracted the virus, those in isolation and those who are anxious, in our prayers."

Additional updates will be published on the Cathedral website, via this e-newsletter and on our social media channels.

We are delighted to share our plans for Advent and Christmas, inviting the Chichester community and beyond to come together in celebration, under the banner of Drop Down, Ye Heavens - referring to the ancient Advent antiphon Rorate caeli: 'Drop down ye heavens, and let the skies pour down righteousness'.

To mark the period of Advent and Christmas, we''ll be hosting a number of special services, available to attend in-person and streamed online. Resources for families and children will also be shared on our website and social media, along with an online calendar of music, art and activities. Further information on these celebrations can be found below.

On Friday 27th November we raised a new Advent Wreath - created by our Maintenance Manager Tony and with foliage expertly organised by our Flower Arrangers. These preparations enabled us to mark the start of Advent on Sunday. To see the wreath being lifted, watch the video below