Chichester Cathedral has been a sacred place of Christian worship since its foundation in 1108. The Cathedral has been at the centre of life in Chichester for over nine centuries; along with being the Mother Church of the Diocese of Chichester which covers East and West Sussex. As well as being a living church it is also a visitor attraction, a venue for music and the arts and an all-round hub for the community, welcoming around 250,000 visitors each year.

The Cathedral includes four governing entities: the Chapter, the Chichester Cathedral Restoration and Development Trust (fundraising), the Chichester Cathedral Friends (membership), and Chichester Cathedral Enterprises Ltd, a trading subsidiary which supports the Cathedral in delivering its mission.

The Cathedral building itself is a Grade I listed blend of Norman and Gothic architecture and a fusion of the ancient and the modern: it houses a unique collection of 20th-century paintings, tapestry, sculpture and glass. The Cathedral does not receive statutory or Church of England funding and is self-supporting, relying on self-generated income, donations and fundraising activities.

The Cathedral is not legally a charity, but is in the process of becoming one by early 2023 and operates on similar principles. Chapter is the equivalent to a charity’s trustee board and Lay Chapter Members are effectively non-executive trustees. It is a key role which requires vision, an aptitude for governance and a commitment to the Cathedral’s flourishing.

At their most effective, Lay Chapter Members bring a broader perspective and fresh awareness to the deliberations of their executive colleagues who work at the Cathedral every day.

As a Lay Chapter Member/Trustee, the successful candidate would work collaboratively with other Chapter Members and colleagues to:

• Provide effective leadership to enable the Cathedral to achieve its mission
• Ensure that the Cathedral complies with its governing documents underpinned by the principles of good governance
• Participate in analysing any risks to the Cathedral and ensuring they are appropriately mitigated
• Ensure the Cathedral’s financial stability, overseeing the integrity of financial information and ensuring that financial controls and management are appropriate and robust
• Actively commit to Chapter’s role in setting overall policy, defining goals, evaluating performance and driving improvement

All members of the Chapter bring their own skills and experience to the table - from finance and fundraising to media, law, learning and art. As a Lay Member, candidates will be invited to use their particular skill set to support the cathedral’s delivery and will be offered opportunities to play an active role in other committees or working groups.

To meet its strategic objectives, the cathedral especially seeks candidates who may be able to bring experience from one of the following sectors:

Education - Chapter is keen on strengthening this skillset in order to maintain partnerships with local schools and increase their outreach programmes

Commercial - experience of working within the commercial sector would be valuable in order to help the cathedral strategise and increase its presence and income as a visitor attraction. Commercial aptitude will help in understanding the complex workings of a cathedral and its associated functions

Applications are particularly encouraged from individuals who are communicant members of the Church of England and those located within the Diocese of Chichester which covers East and West Sussex, as well as those from an ethnic minority background who are currently underrepresented on the Chapter. 

Chapter currently meets about nine times per year, including occasional off-site meetings/away days. For now, most meetings take place on Tuesdays and usually take an afternoon. This is a voluntary role, with the provision for payment of reasonable expenses. The term for this appointment is three years and renewable up to a maximum of nine years. There will be a strong preference for candidates located within the Diocese of Chichester which covers East and West Sussex.