Chichester, diocese of

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Chichester, diocese of. The diocese was created by the transfer of the see from Selsey under the terms of the Council of London (1075), and is roughly conterminous with Sussex. Among its bishops were Hilary (1147–69), who was at variance with Becket as Henry II's chancellor over Battle abbey (1157), and later refused total obedience to Becket as archbishop in his quarrel with the king. Later bishops include Ralph Neville (1224–44), chancellor of England, Richard de Wyche (1244–53), noted for his learning and sanctity and canonized in 1262, Reginald Pecock (1450–9), theological writer and controversialist, deprived of his see, and Lancelot Andrewes (1605–9), as a scholar and preacher one of the principal influences on Anglican theological development. Bishop George Bell (1929–58) was a strong opponent of saturation bombing in the Second World War, a stance which is said to have cost him preferment to Canterbury in 1944. The cathedral, built between c.1091 and 1305, is Norman in origin, but was largely rebuilt between 1191 and 1210 in a style reminiscent of Canterbury.

Revd Dr William M. Marshall

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