This attractive Early English church is dedicated to St Mary.
It is probable that there was a wooden Saxon church on the site, predating the existing structure of St Mary’s Church.
In the Domesday book, the prebend of Chidham, linked to the College of Bosham came under the Diocese of Exeter, and did so until the reformation. The gift of the living has been in the hands of the Bishop of Chichester since 1902.The nave and chancel of the existing structure were built in the latter half of the the 13th century.
The first known Vicar is Andrew Prous, referred to as the “Vicar of Cheddeham” in 1261. The Church registers begin in 1652.
Memorials include memorials to members of the Bickley family who were Lords of the Manor from the Reformation until 1750.
Now to the cache;
At Stage 1, the gate was donated in 2016 by;
A = number of letters in christian name
B = number of letters in surname
At Stage 2, plaque on bench to Bert and Edie;
C = number of letters in surname minus 1
At Stage 3, bench
D = first numeral
E = last numeral
The cache may be found a short walk away at;
N 50 A(B+D).BDD
W 000 CD.(A+C)E(B+D)
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