Modern British Art

Art, Faith & Craft at Ditchling

2 April 2026

Simon Hucker

The Chapel of St Joseph and St Dominic at Ditchling stands as a remarkable expression of the ideals of the Guild of St Joseph and St Dominic, founded in 1920 by Eric Gill and his collaborators.

Conceived as a union of faith, craftsmanship and community, reflecting Gill’s belief that art and religion were not two things but one, the Guild brought together artists and artisans committed to a shared spiritual and material practice. Central to this vision was Gill himself, alongside figures such as Desmond Chute, Joseph Cribb, Edward Johnston, Hilary Pepler, David Jones, George Maxwell and Philip Hagreen, whose contributions helped shape the distinctive early aesthetic and devotional character of the workshop.

Illustrated: The chapel of the Guild of St Joseph and St Dominic showing carvings by Eric Gill and Desmond Chute, Ditchling, East Sussex, 1950s. Photo by Holloway, Edgar (1914-2008) © Bridgeman Image

Explore our Spring 2026 MODERN MADE Auction

Take a look at lots within our Spring 2026 MODERN MADE auction, comprising art, design and craft.

A group of architectural elements comprising capitals, a piscina and a devotional niche originates from the Chapel and embodies the Guild’s synthesis of sculpture and liturgical function. These works were formerly in the collection of the gallerist Gillian Jason, who acquired them directly from the Guild following the Chapel’s demolition in the late twentieth century.

Constructed between 1917 and 1918, the Chapel served not only as a place of worship but as the spiritual heart of the Guild’s activities. Built largely by hand using local materials, it reflects Gill’s belief in the integration of art, craft, and daily life, drawing on medieval precedents while remaining distinctly modern in its ideals. During this period, the village of Ditchling became a centre for artistic and intellectual exchange, attracting a circle of like-minded makers committed to reviving traditional craftsmanship in opposition to industrial production.

The piscina and capitals have historically been catalogued as the work of the Workshop of Eric Gill. Subsequent research, however, has clarified their authorship. An entry in the Hove Museum catalogue attributes the carving of these elements to Gill himself, while definitive confirmation is provided by Gill’s original diary, held at the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, University of California, Los Angeles. The relevant entries record the carving of the piscina on 24 February and the capital on 28 February, confirming that these works were executed by Gill.

Alongside these, the devotional niche, attributed to Desmond Chute and the Ditchling workshop, reflects the collaborative ethos of the Guild, in which individual craftsmanship operated within a shared spiritual and artistic framework. We are honoured to present items from the Guild within our Spring 2026 MODERN MADE auction.

Department

Modern British Art

Specialist

Simon Hucker

Associate Director, Senior Fine Art Specialist