England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Chichester St Andrew

The Parish

The parish of St Andrew occupies the eastern area within the ancient walls of the city of Chichester. The cathedral city of Chichester lies in southwestern Sussex not too far from both the border with neighbouring Hampshire and also close to Sussex' English Channel coastline. The city lies some 62 miles southwest of London and forms the southern terminus of the A286 road which connects it northwards to the capital. Chichester has a compact and previously walled centre which is almost circular and within that centre a number of tiny parishes, St Andrew included, were laid out. Chichester developed during the Roman period as a fort, Noviomagus, and part of their southern defenses for the newly occupied country. Whilst Chichester grew in importance as a regional hub and market during Saxon times it suffered greatly from Danish incursions such that by Domesday times it consisted of scarcely 100 houses. Norman development of both cathedral and castle resumed the regional importance and Chichester grew into a substantial market town through the medieval period. Whilst not of the size of contemporary cathedral cities Chichester remains an important regional market offering specialist services not economic in smaller settlements. The arrival of the coastal railway line connecting Chichester with London boosted the economy and encouraged Chichester's other main economic attraction namely tourism with the preserved old town and cathedral a major draw. Other modern developments included the Chichester ship canal, an ambitious attempt to turn the city into an important port, a project of mixed fortunes given the silting of Chichester Harbour, an area better know for its wildlife than international commerce. Mostly man-influenced drainage takes water to the nearby English Channel. Chichester is sited at around 10 - 15 metres above the sea, the site of St Andrews' church being at 12 metres. Chichester's tiny parishes each cover a small area but were often packed with residents St Andrew was the third largest in population holding around 600 parishioners. In Domesday times Chichester was fallen on hard times and whilst recorded as an holding of Earl Roger of Shrewsbury its assets were not specifically detailed other than that there was a mill.

The Church

St Andrew's church has been deconsecrated and now serves as an Art Centre, it fell into disuse following war time damage and was converted between 1861 & 1976 and extended in 1989. The church has a unique position accessed off the city's East Street by a U-shaped alley which appears to lead nowhere in particular but behind the fronting shops and hidden from the street is the former church, it sits just west of a Marks & Spencer Food Hall. The earliest remaining fabric sits at the eastern end of the church where lancets confirm the Early English Gothic period. Most windows were replaced in the later Perpendicular period during both 14th  & 15th centuries. A minor Victorian restoration, undated by Pevsner, made few changes except to "Victorianize" the bell-turret. The modern extension of 1989 was designed sympathetically in coursed rubble stone to blend in. There is a substantial car park north of the site allowing a relaxed visit, given the confines of the site there are few satisfactory angles for the photographer.