Fishbourne, St Peter & St Mary Church

St Peter & St Mary Church, Fishbourne

Fishbourne's ancient parish church, dedicated to St Peter and St Mary, stands on the eastern edge of the village, apart from the settlement. The oldest part of the church is the chancel, dating in part to the 13th century, but the rest is largely Victorian, the result of extensive restoration over the course of the 19th century.

History

The parish of Fishbourne seems to have begun as a chapelry linked to St Bartholomew's Church in neighbouring Chichester. The church's location away from the village centre seems peculiar, but the site is close to the Stuart house of Fishbourne Place.

The 13th-century chancel

The medieval origins of St Peter and St Mary have been largely overwhelmed by the 19th-century rebuilding, leaving the eastern end of the chancel as the only obviously medieval section of the present building.

On the northeastern chancel quoin are medieval carvings that may have been made by pilgrims. Fourteenth-century roof timbers may remain in the nave and chancel, but they are well hidden behind Victorian plastered ceilings.

The large east window, though it is in medieval Gothic style, was installed in the 1847 restoration. The glass is later, designed by Christopher Webb, a student of Sir Ninian Comper. The arcades are also Victorian, though this time in Early English style.

Looking west down the nave

Interior highlights include a 13th-century aumbry in the north chancel wall, a piscina of a similar age in the south chancel wall, a pair of carved benches in the chancel, thought to be 16th-century work, and a 19th-century octagonal font in Perpendicular style.

The chancel windows hold fragments of 17th-century glass found in the churchyard.

The octagonal Victorian font

Visiting

The church is signposted off Fishbourne Road West (the A259) immediately west of its junction with Appledram Lane south. There is a large car par park for visitors that also gives access to public footpaths leading along the shore of Chichester Harbour. The church is typically open to visitors during daylight hours and was open when we visited.

On a personal note, this church holds a place in our family's heart, as our son and daughter-in-law live locally and we attended Christmas service here when visiting them.

Note that from the free church car park you can take signed footpaths leading down both sides of Chichester Harbour.