Sussex Day (Saint Richard’s Day)

Sussex Day (Saint Richard’s Day) is observed every year on June 16. In 2026, this date falls on a Tuesday. It is the county day for Sussex, the historic county in South East England now represented by East Sussex and West Sussex. The day combines local pride, cultural heritage, and the religious memory of St Richard of Chichester, who is regarded as the patron saint of Sussex. Communities often mark the date with flag raisings, local events, readings, music, church services, and attention to Sussex history, landscapes, food, and identity. ¹

See also: Saint Florian Day, Saint Basil’s Day, Saint George’s Day

History of Sussex Day (Saint Richard’s Day)

The date is tied to St Richard of Chichester, a 13th-century bishop whose body was moved on June 16, 1276, from its original burial place to a shrine behind the high altar of Chichester Cathedral. Richard had served as Bishop of Chichester during a difficult period that included conflict with King Henry III over his appointment and the property of the diocese. He died in Dover on April 3, 1253, and was canonized in 1262. His shrine later became an important place of pilgrimage, linking his memory closely with Chichester and the wider county of Sussex.

The modern county observance developed much later as a way to focus public attention on Sussex identity and heritage. The idea of Sussex Day is associated with Worthing resident Ian Steedman, who proposed the date in 2006, and it was recognized by West Sussex County Council in 2007. Choosing June 16 connected the civic county day with the translated feast day of St Richard, giving the observance both a local cultural meaning and a historic religious reference. Today, the day is understood less as a single formal ceremony and more as a shared county occasion for honoring Sussex’s past and present.

Why is Sussex Day (Saint Richard’s Day) important?

Sussex Day matters because it gives a historic county a clear day for public recognition. Sussex has a strong local identity, with coastal towns, downland villages, market communities, ancient sites, churches, castles, and cultural traditions that do not always fit neatly into modern administrative boundaries. The observance gives residents, schools, councils, churches, museums, and community groups a reason to talk about that shared inheritance. It also keeps the name Sussex visible as more than a geographic label.

The day is also important because it connects civic pride with a specific historical figure. St Richard’s story reaches back to medieval Chichester, church reform, pilgrimage, and the long relationship between local faith and county identity. For people who are not religious, Sussex Day can still be a useful prompt to learn about local history, visit a heritage site, support a local business, or notice the landscapes and communities that shape the county. For church communities, it remains a day connected with remembrance, prayer, and the continuing legacy of St Richard.

• It keeps Sussex history in public view.
• It gives local communities a shared county date.
• It links Chichester’s religious heritage with wider Sussex identity.
• It supports pride in local places, customs, and landmarks.
• It encourages people to learn about the county’s past.

How to Celebrate Sussex Day (Saint Richard’s Day)

Raise or look for the Sussex flag, visit a local museum, take a walk on the South Downs, or spend time in a Sussex town or village with a strong historic connection. A simple way to mark the day is to learn one new detail about the county: a local saint, a parish church, a coastal defense site, a historic house, a traditional song, or the meaning of the six martlets on the Sussex flag. Local councils and community groups may hold events, and some places mark the date with public readings, music, or flag ceremonies. Churches connected with St Richard may also hold services or prayers near the date.

Food, local business, and family history can also make the day feel grounded. Visit an independent shop, buy something made in Sussex, look up old family addresses, or plan a short trip to Chichester Cathedral, Lewes, Arundel, Hastings, Pevensey, Bramber, or another historic place in the county. Teachers and parents can use the date for a short local history lesson, especially because the day brings together geography, religion, medieval history, and civic identity. The best observances are specific to place: a village walk, a parish archive, a local landmark, or a conversation with someone who knows the area well.

• Fly or display the Sussex flag.
• Read a short biography of St Richard of Chichester.
• Visit a local heritage site or museum.
• Support a Sussex farm shop, café, or small business.
• Learn the words or history of “Sussex by the Sea.”

Sussex Day (Saint Richard’s Day) Dates

1. https://www.crowboroughtowncouncil.gov.uk/event/sussex-day-2/[↩]