West Sussex church estate centred on Chichester Cathedral (the only English medieval cathedral visible from the sea). Strong mix of Roman-foundation Chichester city parishes, South Downs heritage parishes, post-war Crawley new-town churches, and coastal resort-era congregations.
Notable churches in West Sussex
- Chichester Cathedral
- Worth Abbey
- Boxgrove Priory
- Steyning St Andrew
- Slindon St Mary
Funding picture in West Sussex
Chichester Diocese Net Zero Programme (up to £22k) combines with Buildings for Mission, LPW VAT, Sussex Community Foundation, and South Downs National Park heritage support for parishes within the National Park boundary. A typical funded parish project in West Sussex combines national Buildings for Mission with the diocesan capital programme, Listed Places of Worship VAT for listed buildings, and (often) Allchurches Trust or local foundation grants. Combined coverage of 60-90% of capex is achievable for well-prepared projects.
For full diocese-specific detail see our Diocese of Chichester page or our complete grants and funding guide.
Towns and cities we cover in West Sussex
How we work in West Sussex
- Free desk feasibility — typically inside 7 working days. PCC-ready report covering system size, capex, available grants, payback model.
- On-site survey — structural and electrical engineers visit. Diocesan architect engaged for listed buildings.
- Faculty / Listed Building Consent — for CofE parishes; civil regime for non-CofE buildings.
- Grant applications — Buildings for Mission, diocesan capital, charitable trusts.
- Install and commission — typically 1-3 weeks on site for most parish projects.