St Peter's Church, Selsey

]] According to Bede, St Wilfrid, the exiled Bishop of York, c. 680–81 evangelised the South Saxons during his stay there (c. 680–86). Wilfrid founded a monastery at Selsey, a former royal estate given to him by King Aethelwealh at the entrance to Pagham Harbour (modern-day Church Norton). A picture painted by Lambert Barnard, which hangs in Chichester Cathedral, represents the interview between Caedwalla and St Wilfrid. In the top left corner can be seen a representation of Selsey Church and the priory as it appeared in 1519. It is probable that the bell tower, shown separate from the church on the Barnard painting, dated from the 11th century or earlier was constructed as some sort of…

The church originally stood at Church Norton, until the 19th century when it was moved to the current centre of population. Under ecclesiastical law, the church can be removed but not the chancel. So the old chancel was left. Plans were made of the church in its original position. James Piers St Aubyn was appointed architect in 1865. The re-erected church therefore was the same as the original church, apart from the addition of a new Victorian chancel and a vestry. The re-erected church consists of two arcades of three bays each between the nave and the aisles, originally built in the late 12th century. The east window is of three trefoil-headed lights with Perpendicular tracery, perhaps…