History of the Oxmarket

The Oxmarket Centre of Arts is located within the deconsecrated church building of St Andrew in Oxmarket; from which it derives its name.  The church building is Grade II listed and dates back to the 13th century.  It suffered collateral bomb damage in 1943 and was not used again for services.  Deconsecrated in the 1950s and subsequently derelict, it was not until 1971 that Chichester centre of Arts was formed and work began on restoring the building.

This restoration included the installation of new windows which were designed and engraved by the noted glass engraver Majella Taylor.  The north window depicts St Cecilia, the patron saint of music while the window on the south side shows a figure reading a book – a memorial to the poet William Collins who is buried here. The Centre finally opened in 1976.

Restoration work continued with the rebuilding of the vestry as a storeroom and workshop, and in 1989 a modern extension built over the derelict graveyard was opened by HRH Princess Alexandra.