The meaning of Heritage
World Heritage Day provides an opportunity to pause and reflect on the history, traditions, buildings and objects that we, as a society, consider an important part of our character and identity. From the Forth Bridge in Scotland to Blenheim Palace in Oxford, our green Albion never falls short of awe-inspiring architecture and landscapes.


What does Heritage mean for Lancing College?
On St Benedict's Day, 21 March, in 1854 the first stone of Lancing College was laid at Burwells Farm, located at the base of the central buttress on the western side of the Lower Quad. The (very many more than) four walls that surround our daily lives at the College were built for us – over a century and a half ago – by those seeking a sustainable and pioneering solution to the education issues of days of yore.

At Lancing College, the building that symbolises our character is Lancing College Chapel. Built into the daily lives of thousands of pupils spanning a history of over 175 years, the Chapel towers over the South Downs and can be admired from miles around. Hosting some 5,500 visitors a year, as well as over 1,000 members of the Lancing College community, the Chapel is a key feature of South Downs Heritage.


Lancing College Chapel
The largest school chapel in the world, Lancing College Chapel is a magnificent example of Gothic Revival architecture. The height of the nave stands 90 feet to the apex of the vault, a key design consideration of Lancing College’s founder, Nathaniel Woodard. Knowing his ambitions were great, he ensured the vastness of the Chapel would succeed him, building to full height at the East end from the start. Having been founded by Woodard in 1868, and consecrated in 1911, construction of the whole Chapel was only recently completed in 2022.

The west end includes the spectacular rose window, dedicated by Archbishop Coggan in the presence of HRH The Prince of Wales in 1978, which at 32ft in diameter is the largest in England. The west wall was designed by Stephen Dykes Bower and constructed between 1960 and 1978.

The Chapel houses many other notable features including the stained-glass window in memory of Bishop Trevor Huddleston, dedicated by Archbishop Desmond Tutu on 22 May 2007, as well as tapestries woven on the William Morris looms in the 1930s. The Chapel is also home to two exquisite organs, one by Frobenius and one by Walker dating from 1914. The walls of the Chapel and crypt are adorned with important art works and wood carvings presented to the College as memorials and thanksgivings.
Sussex Heritage Trust
Sussex Heritage Trust is a Registered Charity established in 1977 to preserve, improve and encourage the appreciation of the architectural and natural landscape of Sussex.
The Sussex Heritage Trust endeavours to recognise and celebrate high-quality conservation, restoration, and new built projects in Sussex, through initiatives such as the Heritage Trust Awards. They work with government agencies, local authorities and community groups on local heritage projects and offer educational opportunities in the conservation, building and construction industry. They take a strategic interest in Sussex building and conservation issues, highlighting and reporting on Buildings at Risk.
Amongst their initiatives is a bursary scheme offering short courses on Building Conservation techniques at either the Weald & Downland Living Museum, West Dean College of Arts and Conservation, or South Coast Roof Training. Alongside this, they run an Endangered Crafts Fund, supporting the existence of heritage crafts across Sussex that are at risk of becoming extinct.
Sussex is lucky to have the Trust – it’s an unusual and valuable organisation and a stimulus to stewardship and good working practices.
Jeremy Tomlinson, Steward of Lancing College Chapel
Lancing Chapel Sussex Heritage Award Winners
In 2005, Lancing College Chapel received its first recognition from the Sussex Heritage Trust in the form of a Highly Commended Certificate for the new crypt altar. Just two years later, the Chapel won its first award from the Trust for the restoration and completion of the clerestory windows.
Sussex Heritage Awards 2018
In 2018, the Chapel was awarded its third Sussex Heritage recognition in the Ecclesiastical Buildings Award category:
Chichester Stoneworks undertook Phase I of the scheme involving creation and installation of two new blind tracery windows to arches that had been previously boarded up with temporary timbers. Doulting limestone was used for the full replacement of the cill, reveals, mullions, tracery and hood.
Sussex Heritage Trust
Sussex Heritage Awards 2022
In 2020, work began to complete the west end of the Chapel with an elegant three-arched porch designed by architect, Michael Drury. This project won the Ecclesiastical Building Award for the Friends of Lancing Chapel in 2022. In addition, in 2023 Colin Macrae, Master Mason of Chichester Stoneworks Limited, received the individual award for traditional crafts.
As well as working much of the stone himself, Colin was instrumental in galvanising his team to delivery of the completion of the west front of Lancing College Chapel. There were a number of challenges including the selection of Doulting stone to ensure the integrity and uniformity of each stone, ensuring the development of the drawings and individual stone detailing was deliverable and ensuring that each stone produced by the workshop met the highest standards set by the design team.
Sussex Heritage Trust

Sussex Heritage Awards 2024
This summer, we are delighted to be hosting the Sussex Heritage Awards ceremony within our breathtaking Chapel. We have had the pleasure of hosting this delightful occasion once before as well as the launch of the 2023 awards. On Wednesday 10 July 2024, we will welcome experts from across Sussex who dedicate themselves to the high-quality conservation, restoration, and the good design of newly built projects and those who encourage the use of traditional skills and crafts. Stewards, without whom we would not have been able to complete our marvellous Chapel, which we are now celebrating tenfold.
West End Story
The Friends of Lancing Chapel have just published a new booklet about the construction and completion of the Chapel. Although primarily intended as a supplement to the existing guidebook, it is far more than that. In 26 lavishly illustrated pages it outlines the dramatic tale of the construction of the Chapel from 1868 to 2022 with particular emphasis on the vexed question of how to complete the west end. The story of the construction of the final porch during the COVID lockdowns and against the background of political and financial uncertainty, is vividly told.
The book contains over 80 images drawn from the College Archives or taken while work was in progress. The text is by Jeremy Tomlinson, Steward of Lancing Chapel and Friends’ Secretary. Although much of it is an ‘oft-told tale’, there are many new revelations and, at long last, the ‘story’ reaches a satisfactory conclusion. The book is a celebration of the heroic work done by so many people over 154 years and an appreciation of the generosity of the College, the Friends and OL communities who contributed to the funds – and, of course to the Sussex Heritage Trust for their support.
To order your copy of the book, please click here.

Experience the Magnificence for yourself
Whilst this article explores several of the stunning artefacts and details of Lancing College Chapel, the true brilliance of the Chapel can only be appreciated in person. We warmly welcome you to join us and experience the magnificence for yourself.
The Chapel is open to the public daily throughout the year from 10am to 4pm, and 12 noon to 4pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays (closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day, Good Friday & Easter Sunday).