Saint Peter

Introduction

Saint Peter's in East Wittering, within the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton, was erected in 1938 as a church hall and Mass centre to serve the growing Catholic population.

History

The first Mass was celebrated in Saint Peter's on Easter Day, 1 April 1939. In 1960 a porch and a heating system were added, funded by the parish-wide Football Pool. In 1965 Saint Peter's was transferred from the Parish of Chichester to the Parish of Selsey. In 1985 the Parish of the Witterings was created as an independent parish, with a priest appointed in October as the first Parish Priest.

In 2002 the Parish of the Witterings came again under the care of the priests of the Parish of Chichester. The church was consecrated on 13 June 2006, concelebrated with two priests. In the 1990s the vestibule was enlarged to incorporate a toilet and the repository, replacing the original toilet located in the confessional.

Architecture and furnishings

In 1963 a window of Loire glass from Chartres was installed, replacing plain glass. In 2005 old chairs were replaced with wooden benches reclaimed from a nearby closed church and a new brass processional cross was donated by an anonymous parishioner. In 2006 the Marian Garden was constructed and a new altar was installed. Children's Liturgy, where children celebrate the Liturgy of the Word at their own level, is available regularly at St Peter's.

Sacraments and pastoral care

Parents must attend a Baptism preparation course before a date can be booked, even if they have had another child baptised before. Baptism preparation courses take place each term, three times per year, with a mixture of face to face at St Richard's, Chichester and online contact. Baptisms usually take place either at one of the Sunday Masses or outside of Mass over one weekend at the end of each course, with more than one child often baptised at the same ceremony.

The parish requires at least one year's notice for weddings. Those in need of the Sacrament of the Sick can contact a priest or the Parish Office to request it for themselves or a loved one. For those in St Richard's Hospital, staff can page an on-call priest upon request. The parish offers a 'Preparing a Catholic Funeral' leaflet to help those arranging a funeral.