St Peter and St Mary's Church, Fishbourne

The parish church and its place in village life

St Peter and St Mary's Church is the Church of England parish church for Fishbourne, standing on the edge of Old Fishbourne near the junction with the lane to Dell Quay. The church has served the village community for centuries and remains an active place of worship with regular services, baptisms, weddings, and funerals.

The building has been altered and extended over the centuries, but retains features from its medieval origins. The nave and chancel contain work from several periods, and the churchyard, shaded by mature trees, provides a peaceful setting away from the traffic of the A259. The church is within the Diocese of Chichester.

The church's connection to the village primary school, which bears its name, reinforces its role in community life. Harvest festivals, Christmas services, and other seasonal events bring together the village community in a way that few other occasions can.

The churchyard contains memorial inscriptions that trace Fishbourne families through the centuries, and the building itself is a record in stone of the village's development. For those interested in local history, the church is worth a visit for its architecture and its memorials.

The parish is part of a benefice that includes neighbouring parishes, and services rotate between the churches in the group. The current schedule of services is displayed on the church noticeboard and published in the parish newsletter.