Manhood End - Church Norton Chapel

St Wilfrid's Chapel

Some people believe the small chancel chapel at Church Norton stands on the site of Bishop Wilfrid's 7th century cathedral. What is certain, is that St. Wilfrid, a Benedictine monk and Bishop, did build a monastery at Church Norton alongside the estuary.

The buildingl you see today is a church remnant, the chancel of an original 13th century church that once existed there. It was  removed in the 19th century to be resited at Selsey, about 2 miles away, where the enlarged population  had moved. The chancel was left behind because under church law, a church may be removed but not it's chancel.

St. Wilfrid's chapel as it is known, is in a really quiet, peaceful churchyard setting, that is maintained immaculately by the Churches Conservation Trust.  There is an aethetic beauty sited in an area that has the sea on one side, and green lawns with an abundance of trees, flowers and wildlife throughout.

When standing  in front of the stained glass depiction of St Wilfrid in the tiny chapel, it is salutary to think the plethora of churches throughout Sussex started through the efforts of this man, who brought Christianity to Sussex.