As historians have shown, the end of the war marked the close of the great church-going period. Disillusion, the harrowing experiences of the war and perhaps above all the break in church-going habits of the male population began the downward trend from which the Church has not yet recovered. In October 1926 an anonymous donation enabled the Chapel Royal to commission the local Sussex artist, Harry Mileham, to paint a new altar picture. This fine painting of the Good Shepherd, which Mileham described as showing the "intimate relation and active interest in the individual soul taken by the Divinity" was supplemented by two more paintings in the next year, those of the Disciples on the Sea and of the Prodigal Son. Together these paintings produced a most effective background to the altar. On December 14th, 1932, Riddle Major Raper became the third vicar of the Chapel Royal. He saw the Chapel Royal as a "City Church" with its emphasis upon the people who worked around the church rather than on the minute population of the locality. As new vicar Raper was able to take up the only emphasis which, as time has shown, could give the church a viable place in the religious life of the town. The transition to the third stage had begun. Other growth was however visible. In 1933 it was decided to hold Lenten weekday services with Holy Trinity. Greater emphasis was placed on the Childrens' Church. The onset of the Second World War entailed the partial evacuation of the sea front, and coincided with a period of regression. The war years however still saw the Chapel Royal maintaining progress. The National Day of Prayer in September saw the church being used by some 1,500 people, mainly from the shops and offices. Against this more hopeful background and despite the difficulties of wartime, the 150th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone was not only a time of great thanksgiving for the past but also looked forward with great hope to the future. The latest transition was being made from parish church to city church, a process still evolving today which has been seen to be the Chapel Royal's salvation. It was this among other things which was to lead the Diocese to admit in 1949 "We recognise that the Chapel Royal holds a unique place in the town". The bi-centennial (1995) alterations and realignment of the building were intended to emphasise the building's true strengths - its open windows onto the pavement and its square shape. The passer-by is now able to see the building's purpose as an open sacred space, together with the symbolism of its furniture and the church community at worship. The bi-centennial alterations have transformed the Chapel into a stylish, light area that is inviting and user-friendly. Return to top