Selsey

In ancient times Selsey was an island, and is still almost surrounded by water the English Channel on two sides, the inlet that was Pagham Harbour, now an inland lake, and the Brook, known as Broad Rife on the other side.

The Saxons landed here in AD477, as did St Wilfrid in AD681. Roman and early British coins have been found here on the beach.

The Parish Church of St Peter was put on its present site over 100 years ago, but it is much older, for it was moved from Church Norton, on Pagham Harbour, where it was originally built in the 12th century. The pillars are Norman, as is the Purbeck marble font. The roof of the nave and the wooden lectern are both pre-Reformation.

On the former site at Church Norton stands the Chapel, a 13th century building which was previously the chancel of the parish church.