Richard Churcher (1659–1723) was a wealthy English businessman and philanthropist, who had made his fortune through interests in the British East India Company. He was born in Funtington, West Sussex, and following his death was buried there.
He foundedBritish private school Churcher's College. His will, dated 1722, decreed that the College was to educate "10 or 12 local boys from Petersfield, of any age from 9 to 14, in the arts of writing, arithmetic, mathematics and navigation so they could be apprenticed to masters of ships sailing in the East Indies".