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A fascinating mix of old and new

St Wilfrid’s stands in a tranquil corner of a large churchyard, down a little lane beside Pagham Harbour.

At first sight it appears to be a simple cemetery chapel. In fact it is the 13th-century chancel of a large Norman church.

The main part of the church was removed in 1864 and rebuilt in the centre of Selsey to serve the growing population of this seaside resort.

Inside there are a number of things worth seeing, including:

• a magnificent monument to John and Agas Lewis, dating from 1537;
• vivid carving depicting the gruesome martyrdom of St Agatha;
• a modern stained glass window which features a beautiful depiction of a local nature reserve, designed by M C Farrar-Bell in 1982, and includes moles, stoats, foxes, a woodpecker, avocet and shelduck;
• another modern stained glass window by Carl Edwards, made in 1969, this is dedicated to the contribution made by women to lessen suffering throughout the world (it includes a picture of Cairo Cathedral, which has now been demolished).

An intriguing combination of ancient and modern makes a visit to this church popular among the walkers and birdwatchers who enjoy the many footpaths and the wildlife around this delightful site.

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