This volume investigates the administrative and ecclesiastical records of the bishops of Chichester between 1254 and 1305 to understand the governance of the diocese during a period of significant political and religious transition. Philippa M. Hoskin, a noted scholar in medieval ecclesiastical history, compiles and analyzes the extant charters of John of Climping, Stephen Bersted, and Gilbert of St. Leofard. By examining these primary documents, the work provides a framework for understanding how these men navigated their roles amidst the influence of Saint Richard Wich and the broader political instability of the era. The text serves as a critical resource for reconstructing the daily operations of the medieval church and its interactions with both local peasantry and the monarchy.

Scholars and historians of the medieval period recognize this volume as a foundational reference for the study of English episcopal administration. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the meticulous nature of the archival research presented by the author.