St Peter's Church, Selsey
Encyclopedia
St Peter's Church is the Parish Church of Selsey, West Sussex and dates from the 13th century. The Church building was originally situated at the location of St Wilfrid's first monastery and cathedral at Church Norton
some 2 miles north of the present centre of population.
and the aisles, of the late-12th century; it had barely been finished when it was decided to lengthen the church by one bay westward. The chancel
was of slightly later date, early 13th century. The date when the tower was begun is unknown. A sacristy
or flanking chapel on the north of the chancel had disappeared before the 19th century.
The chancel (which still remains at Church Norton) has clasping buttresses at each east corner, a small buttress (apparently modern) near the west end of the north wall, and buttresses (the remains of the east walls of the aisles) to north and south of the west wall.
The east window is of three trefoil-headed lights with Perpendicular tracery, perhaps late-14th century; the rear-arch may be that of a former lancet triplet.
In the south wall are two pointed-headed niches with chamfered arrises, the eastern is now a credence
, the western a piscina
; though the style of these suggests a later date than the 13th century the original moulded string-course which runs round the south, east, and north sides of the chancel rises to clear them.
Next are two 13th-century lancets with segmental rear-arches, and a priest's doorway with plain pointed exterior arch, 13th-century but much repaired with cement, and segmental rear-arch; this is now blocked externally, and its recess serves as a cupboard. Next is a two-light window without tracery, the lights having semicircular heads, perhaps a 17th-century enlargement to light a reading-desk, the inner part of the splay and the rear-arch being those of a 13th-century lancet.
In the north wall are two lancets like those in the south; perhaps a third, now blocked, exists west of them. On the outside of this wall there is a weather-mould where the roof of a building adjoined it on the north.
By the middle of the 19th century the population had drifted away to Sutton (modern day Selsey), largely because of coastal erosion. It was therefore decided to move the church to the new centre of population. In 1864-66 the church was dismantled stone by stone and re-erected in its present position, only the chancel remaining at Church Norton. This is now styled St Wilfrid's Chapel
, and is in the care of a national charity, the Churches Conservation Trust
. A new Victorian chancel was added to the re-erected mediaeval nave.
The church has a chalice dating from Elizabethan times and also an ancient font. Ian Nairn dated the font as being constructed at around 1100. However this was seen as a little early by other historians. The font, which is made of Purbeck marble
, Heron-Allen suggests was of a type that was very common in the south east counties in the 12th century, having shallow bodies with circular basins standing upon a square base and supported by a large central and small angle shafts.
, 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). After Caedwalla conquered the South Saxons c.685, the area became part of the Diocese of Wessex, with its seat in Winchester
. However, the bishopric of Sussex was re-established in about 705, and Wilfrid's monastery was taken over as the episcopal seat.
A picture painted by Theodore Bernardi, a Flemish artist, 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. Some historians, however, have speculated that it may well be the remains of the old tower on the earthwork, built by the Normans as part of their fortification close to the church.
In 1075, the See was transferred to Chichester. The location of the old Selsey cathedral is not known for certain, and although some local legends suggest it is under the sea, and that the bell could be heard tolling during rough weather, it is thought unlikely.
A more likely explanation is that the replacement church, founded in the 13th century, was built on the site of the old cathedral. There it remained until 1864-66, when all but the chancel was moved to the new centre of population in Selsey, where it was orientated North rather than East. The chancel that remains at Church Norton was dedicated to St Wilfrid in 1917 and is known as St Wilfrid's Chapel. The new parish church, complete with a new chancel, was consecrated on 12 April 1866.
St Wilfrid's Chapel, Church Norton
St Wilfrid's Chapel, also known as St Wilfrid's Church and originally as St Peter's Church, is a former Anglican church at Church Norton, a rural location near the village of Selsey in West Sussex, England...
some 2 miles north of the present centre of population.
Building
The church was at Church Norton until 1864, and at that date it consisted of two arcades of three bays each between the naveNave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
and the aisles, of the late-12th century; it had barely been finished when it was decided to lengthen the church by one bay westward. The chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
was of slightly later date, early 13th century. The date when the tower was begun is unknown. A sacristy
Sacristy
A sacristy is a room for keeping vestments and other church furnishings, sacred vessels, and parish records.The sacristy is usually located inside the church, but in some cases it is an annex or separate building...
or flanking chapel on the north of the chancel had disappeared before the 19th century.
The chancel (which still remains at Church Norton) has clasping buttresses at each east corner, a small buttress (apparently modern) near the west end of the north wall, and buttresses (the remains of the east walls of the aisles) to north and south of the west wall.
The east window is of three trefoil-headed lights with Perpendicular tracery, perhaps late-14th century; the rear-arch may be that of a former lancet triplet.
In the south wall are two pointed-headed niches with chamfered arrises, the eastern is now a credence
Credence table
A Credence table is a small side table in the sanctuary of a Christian church which is used in the celebration of the Eucharist. Etymology: from latin credens, -entis, believer)....
, the western a piscina
Piscina
A piscina is a shallow basin placed near the altar of a church, used for washing the communion vessels. The sacrarium is the drain itself. Anglicans usually refer to the basin, calling it a piscina. Roman Catholics usually refer to the drain, and by extension, the basin, as the sacrarium...
; though the style of these suggests a later date than the 13th century the original moulded string-course which runs round the south, east, and north sides of the chancel rises to clear them.
Next are two 13th-century lancets with segmental rear-arches, and a priest's doorway with plain pointed exterior arch, 13th-century but much repaired with cement, and segmental rear-arch; this is now blocked externally, and its recess serves as a cupboard. Next is a two-light window without tracery, the lights having semicircular heads, perhaps a 17th-century enlargement to light a reading-desk, the inner part of the splay and the rear-arch being those of a 13th-century lancet.
In the north wall are two lancets like those in the south; perhaps a third, now blocked, exists west of them. On the outside of this wall there is a weather-mould where the roof of a building adjoined it on the north.
By the middle of the 19th century the population had drifted away to Sutton (modern day Selsey), largely because of coastal erosion. It was therefore decided to move the church to the new centre of population. In 1864-66 the church was dismantled stone by stone and re-erected in its present position, only the chancel remaining at Church Norton. This is now styled St Wilfrid's Chapel
St Wilfrid's Chapel, Church Norton
St Wilfrid's Chapel, also known as St Wilfrid's Church and originally as St Peter's Church, is a former Anglican church at Church Norton, a rural location near the village of Selsey in West Sussex, England...
, and is in the care of a national charity, the Churches Conservation Trust
Churches Conservation Trust
The Churches Conservation Trust, which was initially known as the Redundant Churches Fund, is a charity whose purpose is to protect historic churches at risk, those that have been made redundant by the Church of England. The Trust was established by the Pastoral Measure of 1968...
. A new Victorian chancel was added to the re-erected mediaeval nave.
The church has a chalice dating from Elizabethan times and also an ancient font. Ian Nairn dated the font as being constructed at around 1100. However this was seen as a little early by other historians. The font, which is made of Purbeck marble
Purbeck Marble
Purbeck Marble is a fossiliferous limestone quarried in the Isle of Purbeck, a peninsula in south-east Dorset, England.It is one of many kinds of Purbeck Limestone, deposited in the late Jurassic or early Cretaceous periods....
, Heron-Allen suggests was of a type that was very common in the south east counties in the 12th century, having shallow bodies with circular basins standing upon a square base and supported by a large central and small angle shafts.
History
According to BedeBede
Bede , also referred to as Saint Bede or the Venerable Bede , was a monk at the Northumbrian monastery of Saint Peter at Monkwearmouth, today part of Sunderland, England, and of its companion monastery, Saint Paul's, in modern Jarrow , both in the Kingdom of Northumbria...
, 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
Selsey Abbey
Selsey Abbey was almost certainly built at Church Norton, Selsey, Sussex, England. It was founded in 683AD, and became the seat of the Sussex bishopric, until it was moved in 1075AD to Chichester.-Historical Context :...
at Selsey, a former royal estate given to him by King Aethelwealh at the entrance to Pagham Harbour
Pagham Harbour
Pagham Harbour is a natural harbour on England's south coast. It is south of the city of Chichester and near the towns of Pagham and Selsey.Geographically it is the smallest and most easterly of the harbours of the Solent....
(modern-day Church Norton). After Caedwalla conquered the South Saxons c.685, the area became part of the Diocese of Wessex, with its seat in Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
. However, the bishopric of Sussex was re-established in about 705, and Wilfrid's monastery was taken over as the episcopal seat.
A picture painted by Theodore Bernardi, a Flemish artist, which hangs in Chichester Cathedral
Chichester Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, otherwise called Chichester Cathedral, is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Chichester. It is located in Chichester, in Sussex, England...
, represents the interview between Caedwalla and St Wilfrid
Wilfrid
Wilfrid was an English bishop and saint. Born a Northumbrian noble, he entered religious life as a teenager and studied at Lindisfarne, at Canterbury, in Gaul, and at Rome; he returned to Northumbria in about 660, and became the abbot of a newly founded monastery at Ripon...
. In the top left corner can be seen a representation of Selsey Church and the priory as it appeared in 1519. Some historians, however, have speculated that it may well be the remains of the old tower on the earthwork, built by the Normans as part of their fortification close to the church.
In 1075, the See was transferred to Chichester. The location of the old Selsey cathedral is not known for certain, and although some local legends suggest it is under the sea, and that the bell could be heard tolling during rough weather, it is thought unlikely.
A more likely explanation is that the replacement church, founded in the 13th century, was built on the site of the old cathedral. There it remained until 1864-66, when all but the chancel was moved to the new centre of population in Selsey, where it was orientated North rather than East. The chancel that remains at Church Norton was dedicated to St Wilfrid in 1917 and is known as St Wilfrid's Chapel. The new parish church, complete with a new chancel, was consecrated on 12 April 1866.
See also
- List of bishops of Chichester and precursor offices - This list includes the Bishops of Selsey.
External links
- St Wilfrid's Bognor- Picture from North Transept of Chichester Cathedral showing St Wilfrids Interview with Caedwalla
