Church Of St Richard

The Church of St Richard was designed by Kier Hett in 1937 and opened in 1938, with the chancel completed in 1942. It displays a distinctive architectural style that combines Art Deco and Scandinavian influences. The church is constructed with a reinforced concrete frame, faced with local brick in English bond and covered by a tiled roof. It is cruciform in shape, comprising a five-bay nave with aisles, a three-bay chancel, a chapel in the north transept, and a baptistery in the south transept. The steeply pitched roof is punctuated by hipped dormers featuring leaded lights, four on the nave and two on the chancel. The main entrance is through the south transept, which features a large gable with a weatherboarded gablet supported by wooden brackets, creating a bellcote. A round-headed leaded light window is set within a stepped, parapetted porch, incorporating a central shallow pediment displaying a cross and the date 1938, with a round-headed entrance flanked by brick pilasters. The west front has a large gable containing a recessed round-headed window with leaded lights. The doorcase features a large ribbed concrete lintel with a flattened pediment above, displaying a cross. Recessed double doors are flanked by sidelights. The north transept has a gable with a two-light window containing a round-headed tympanum above and a four-light window below. A flat-roofed vestry is situated in the south-east angle. The east gable has no windows, instead featuring a large tiled inlaid cross.

The interior of the church includes a north transept porch with double doors featuring leaded lights and linenfold panels, along with good metal fittings. The crossing is defined by a concrete hexagonal ribbing, while the nave and chancel have an octagonal ribbing. A balcony is present at the west end of the nave, with a cast iron and oak patterned handrail incorporating four crosses; a wooden winder staircase leading to it is fitted with a chrome handrail. The church retains original pews. The south transept houses later 20th-century stained glass depicting the Virgin and Child, an octagonal tapering stone font with cross and wave decoration, and an octagonal font cover featuring a dove. The north transept contains a stained glass window inscribed 'GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO’ and a wooden winder staircase with a chrome handrail. The south chapel below retains original wooden pews and altar rails, as well as square metal ceiling lights. A later 20th-century stained glass window depicts St Richard of Chichester and the Virgin and Child, accompanied by shepherds. An octagonal oak pulpit stands on a tapering stone base, along with a matching chair. The chancel comprises three steps and a stone floor, dated June 6th 1942. A piscina is located to the south-east, and a cupboard to the north-east.