Diocese of Chichester – Important Anniversaries in 2025
1,700th Anniversary of the Nicene Creed
950th Anniversary of the Diocese of Chichester and Chichester Cathedral
On 16th June, the Feast of Saint Richard, also known as Sussex Day, the Diocese of Chichester and Chichester Cathedral unveiled special plans to mark two important anniversaries coming up next year.
In 2025, Sussex will celebrate the Christian faith, marking the 950th anniversary of the Diocese of Chichester and Chichester Cathedral, as well as the 1700th anniversary of when the Nicene Creed first emerged.
In 1075 the decision was made to move the seat of the Bishop from Selsey to the more populous town of Chichester, the former Roman settlement known as Noviomagus.
The original Cathedral and Bishop's Palace were rebuilt on the present site in the early 13th century after a disastrous fire. The Diocese retains its original boundaries, serving the people of East and West Sussex and Brighton and Hove.
2025 also marks the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea which resulted in the Nicene Creed emerging - a document still recited by Christians summarising the essence of what they believe.
A wide range of events celebrating both anniversaries are in the process of being organised. This communication gives an outline of our plans and to get key dates into diaries. There is also a request from the cathedral asking our church communities to get involved in creating a journey through time - to capture the essence of the cathedral’s 950 years of Christian Faith. You can read it on page 53 of Faith in Sussex here
All of the promotional content uses the new visual identity created by StudioMoo, and developed in consultation with our communities and end users. We are currently working on delivering further templates and guidance for this to be used by our parishes and schools later this year. www.celebratingfaith.co.uk
Bishop Martin said today: "This momentous celebration reminds us that we cannot define God. Faith is an exploration in which we risk everything to glimpse the mystery of God’s glory and to discover our place in his heart of love.
He added: "All of these will serve to inspire and strengthen our faith as we seek together to know, love, and follow the Lord Jesus in 2025 and beyond. We look forward to sharing more details of Celebrating Faith and Chichester950 with you in due course.”.
With regards to the events marking the anniversary of the Creed, the Bishop said: “The programme in 2025 will explore how the Creed unites us in what we believe about God, who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”
For the Diocese, celebrations will come under the banner of Celebrating Christian Faith, and will include:
- A celebration service in every deanery across East and West Sussex;
- A weekend away for young families;
- Pilgrimages for young people and parishes across the deaneries;
- A Lent Course focussing on the essential elements of the Creed;
- A clergy conference in Canterbury;
- An international ecumenical conference in Chichester marking the anniversary of the Nicene Creed;
For the Cathedral, celebrations will come under the banner of Chichester950, and will include:
- Religion, Revolution & Reformation, 14th February – 15th November 2025: An interactive exhibition sharing the story of the Christian faith in Sussex, revealed through people, events and objects, from 1075 to the present day;
- Together in Unity, 17th May 2025: A concert on the 60th anniversary of Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, including the unveiling of a new musical composition;
- TrinityFest on the Green, 15th June 2025: Marking the Feast of the Holy Trinity, to which the Cathedral is dedicated, with a vibrant celebration uniting Chichester communities over food, music, and culture, on the Cathedral Green;
- Light Show, 24th - 31st October 2025: An immersive fine art, light and sound installation taking place over October Half Term celebrating the 950 year history of the Cathedral.
Further details for Celebrating Christian Faith and Chichester950 will be unveiled later this year.www.celebratingfaith.co.uk.