Overview
Sussex Saints Pilgrimage
Our pilgrimages explore nearly 1500 years of Christian history, enabling you to discover more about the great figures of the evangelisation of Sussex and the places where people have worshipped God for many centuries. We hope you will feel renewed by your experiences on the pilgrimage.
St Wilfrid inspired the pagan South Saxons in the 680’s with the truth of the gospel and built an abbey at costal Church Norton. Christian worship in Sussex has continued ever since. The landscape abounds with beautiful ancient churches. We visit places made holy through centuries of Christian witness.
Please call Maria on 01903 413606 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to discuss possible arrangements.
4 Night Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive from 4pm, welcome and introduction
Day 2 Early times and St Wilfrid
Church Norton where St Wilfrid established his mission. Bede tells us his prayers ended a drought and he taught the people to fish, given them the means to avoid starvation.
- West Wittering Church of St Peter and St Paul was founded in Saxon times and has some remains from this age. St Richard himself worshipped here in the 1200s and built the Lady Chapel. Soon after his death it became a place of pilgrimage in his honour
- Bosham, depicted in the Bayeaux tapestry, contains a grave thought to be of the daughter of King Canute (1030-1050). It’s where he is said to have tried to turn back the tide!
- Boxgrove Priory with its beautiful medieval wall painting and ruins of a bygone age
Day 3 Chichester and St Richard
We spend the day in the beautiful cathedral city of Chichester, first established in Roman times. There are many individual shops, cafes and restaurants. After a walking tour of the city, you are free to explore at your own pace. Highlights of the city
- Chichester Cathedral - this magnificent Norman building dates from1076 when the see was moved from Selsey to Chichester. See inspiring religious art spanning nearly 1000 years from the12th century relief of Lazarus being raised from the dead to the 20th century Chagall window and Graham Sutherland painting. Our visit includes Evensong at 5.30 pm and a guided tour.
- St Richard’s Catholic Church is a modern building replacing the one of the earliest post Reformation Catholic churches in Sussex. It is a listed building because of the wonderful stained glass windows of Loire glass. Our visit includes Holy Mass at 12.15 pm and a guided tour.
- Novium Museum: built over the remains of the Roman bath house (now on view to visitors) and containing artefacts and displays from 2,000 years including
- Pallant House Gallery: a unique combination of a Grade 1 Listed Queen Anne townhouse and an award-winning contemporary extension, housing one of the UK's most significant collections of modern British art.
Day 4 Arundel and St Philip Howard
Set on a hill rising from the River Arun, the picturesque town of Arundel has grown up over the last 1000 years around the magnificent castle. Explore the streets packed with interesting, individual shops from antique to designer, the numerous cafes and restaurants and the idyllic riverside walk
- Cathedral
- Church of St Nicholas
- Priory ruins
- Museum
Day 5 Departure
Please pack up your room by 11. If you have time you're welcome to leave your bags and explore further, perhaps using one of our guides to local walks.
If we have to make any changes to the programme we'll let you know as soon as possible.
3 Night Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive from 4pm, welcome and introduction
Day 2 Early times and St Wilfrid
Church Norton where St Wilfrid established his mission. Bede tells us his prayers ended a drought and he taught the people to fish, given them the means to avoid starvation.
- West Wittering Church of St Peter and St Paul was founded in Saxon times and has some remains from this age. St Richard himself worshipped here in the 1200s and built the Lady Chapel. Soon after his death it became a place of pilgrimage in his honour
- Bosham, depicted in the Bayeaux tapestry, contains a grave thought to be of the daughter of King Canute (1030-1050). It’s where he is said to have tried to turn back the tide!
- Boxgrove Priory with its beautiful medieval wall painting and ruins of a bygone age
Day 3 Chichester and St Richard
We spend the day in the beautiful cathedral city of Chichester, first established in Roman times. There are many individual shops, cafes and restaurants. After a walking tour of the city, you are free to explore at your own pace. Highlights of the city
- Chichester Cathedral - this magnificent Norman building dates from1076 when the see was moved from Selsey to Chichester. See inspiring religious art spanning nearly 1000 years from the12th century relief of Lazarus being raised from the dead to the 20th century Chagall window and Graham Sutherland painting. Our visit includes Evensong at 5.30 pm and a guided tour.
- St Richard’s Catholic Church is a modern building replacing the one of the earliest post Reformation Catholic churches in Sussex. It is a listed building because of the wonderful stained glass windows of Loire glass. Our visit includes Holy Mass at 12.15 pm and a guided tour.
- Novium Museum: built over the remains of the Roman bath house (now on view to visitors) and containing artefacts and displays from 2,000 years including
- Pallant House Gallery: a unique combination of a Grade 1 Listed Queen Anne townhouse and an award-winning contemporary extension, housing one of the UK's most significant collections of modern British art.
Day 4 Departure
Please pack up your room by 11. If you have time you're welcome to leave your bags and explore further, perhaps using one of our guides to local walks.
If we have to make any changes to the programme we'll let you know as soon as possible.
2 night itinerary
Day 1: Arrival
Arrive from 4pm ready for welcome over tea at 5pm. Time to settle into your comfortable accommodation before dinner at 7 followed by a short introductory talk. Then relax at the bar or on the veranda or perhaps go for a stroll along the riverbank. |
Day 2: St Wilfrid and St Richard
Our visit explore the early times of Christianity in this area from the celtic Christians surviving at Bosham in 684 when St Wilfrid arrived to the medieval cathedral of Chichester
- Bosham, depicted in the Bayeaux tapestry, contains a grave thought to be of the daughter of King Canute (1030-1050). We explore the harbourside church of the Holy Trinity dating back to Saxon times, with Holy Mass at the modern Catholic church in the village if you wish.
- Church Norton where St Wilfrid established his mission. Bede tells us his prayers ended a drought and he taught the people to fish, given them the means to survive times of famine. We have a short time of prayer here at noon.
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The magnificent Norman building dates from1076 when the see was moved from Selsey to Chichester. See inspiring religious art spanning nearly 1000 years from the 12th century relief of Lazarus being raised from the dead. This view of the cathedral shows the ancient priory church in the foreground
Day 3: Arundel and St Philip Howard
We look at medieval times with the parish churches of Boxgove, Slindon and Arundel to the Victorian Catholic Cathedral at Arundel. Our day takes in
- Arundel: starting at the top of the hill, we visit the parish church of St Nicholas and a tour of the Catholic cathedral of Our Lady and St Philip Howard, built in the 1870s by Duke Henry and containing the shrine of St Philip Howard.There is Holy Mass at Arundel Cathedral at 10am for those who want to participate.
- We walk down through the town to the riverside priory ruins and new museum
- Slindon, a National Trust village set amongst wooded hills and site of the medieval palace of the Archbishops of Canterbury. Mass continued to be said at Slindon Hall during penal times. A beautiful medieval cope belonging to Cardinal Thomas Morton, patron of St Thomas More, was found in the old Catholic presbytery at Slindon in the 1980s and is now displayed at Arundel Castle.
- Boxgrove Priory with its beautiful medieval wall painting and ruins of a bygone age
We finish about 5pm and return to the Heritage Centre for a welcome cup of tea before collecting your bags and departing.
This programme may be subject to change but you will be notified of any changes as soon as possible.
Full board, including dinner on Day 1 and Day 2 and a packed lunch on Day 2 and Day 3.
Plesae phone Maria on 01903 884971 to book for this tour. You are very welcome to stay for a further night or nights to explore Arundel Castle or any of the other attractions of the area - please enquire.