England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Chichester St Peter the Less

The Parish

The parish of St Peter the Less occupies the northernmost 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 Peter the Less 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 imrtance 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 former site of St Peter the Less church being at 14 metres. Chichester's tiny parishes each cover a small area but were often packed with residents each holding, including St Peter the Less, around 300 parishioners. In Domesday times Chichester was fallen on hard times and whilst recorded as an holding of Ear Roger of Shrewsbury its assets were not specifically detailed other than that there was a mill.

The Church

St Peter the Less' church was demolished in 1960 as deemed surplus to requirements within the city. The church formerly stood on the eastern side of North Street, nowadays a prime shopping area. The church had its origins in the late 13th century, the chancel arch being the main fabric dating from this Early English Gothic period. Most of the fabric, however, was in the 14th century styles of Decorated & Perpendicular, the tower with square openings decorated in trefoil and topped by battlements being its principal feature. Even by 1610 the church was described as "much decayed" and despite plans to resurrect the church as a rebuild in 1853 it was restored in typical Victorian style in 1862. Falling attendances and the presence of 9 parish churches within the confines of the city walls led to St Peter the Less suffering the final indignity of demolition. Despite the relatively recent demolition there appears to be few images recording the church available.