Church Norton, St WilfridChurch Norton has a single bell, hung beneath a small shelter at the west end of the nave. The church has a rich history, with many references to its former towers and bells. A monastery was founded near St Wilfrid’s in 683, and it is depicted in a painting in Chichester Cathedral. This site once housed the cathedral of Sussex, before it was moved to Chichester in 1075. In the top left corner of the painting, the site of St Wilfrid’s is shown with a small church and a detached tower. The medieval mound to the south of St Wilfrid’s revealed the location of this tower during an excavation in 1911.
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The Bell
1866 - Present
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Nominal |
Note |
Founder |
Cast |
Canon |
Hanging |
1 |
c1cwt |
16.75" |
2328 Hz |
D |
1865 |
Swing |
1844 - 1866
Bell |
Weight |
Founder |
Date |
Hanging |
1 |
7-1-13 |
Charles & George Mears |
1844 |
Swing? |
1 Bell, in Db
Bells at this site, now known as Church Norton, can be traced back to the 16th century, though there is little doubt that bells existed here many centuries earlier. To the south of St Wilfrid’s Church lies a medieval mound, which revealed the remains of a square tower during excavations in 1911.
Bells at this site, now known as Church Norton, can be traced back to the 16th century, though there is little doubt that bells existed here many centuries earlier. To the south of St Wilfrid’s Church lies a medieval mound, which revealed the remains of a square tower during excavations in 1911.
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A painting in Chichester Cathedral, depicting Saint Wilfrid founding Selsey Abbey, shows what St Wilfrid’s Church looked like in the 16th century. It consisted of a nave, a chancel, and a detached bell tower, which formed part of an 11th-century castle. Though its original purpose is unknown, it was likely a gatehouse, similar to that at Bramber.
Letters patent issued in 1580 record that the tower also served as an important sea marker for boats and ships sailing through the area known as “The Shalles”. We also gain an idea of its size, as it is described as being “of a great height”. Other examples of churches used as sea markers include St Helen’s Old Church (Isle of Wight), Tortington, and Ford—the latter two having boarded belfries painted white. |
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"that there is in the saide Isle of Selsey, one olde stone Steeple of a great height adioyning neere to the Sea, which of most auncient time out of mind and at present is a notable Sea-marke for all Merchants and Trauailers by Sea vpon the South coast, from East to the West, and from the West to the East, wherby not onlie the said Maisters of Merchant Ships but also the Maisters of our Ships take principall marke for the auoiding the dangers of great Rocks and Shalles lying out tenne miles from the shoare, being one of the most dangerous places upon that Coast called the Shalles'
Unfortunately, having a bell tower so close to the sea comes at a cost. The elements are unkind to coastal structures, as shown by 16th-century references to the tower’s condition. The first appears in a will dated 12 April 1541: “To ye reperation of ye Stepull of Selsey vjs viijd.” The second comes from the churchwardens’ presentments of 1579, which worryingly state: “The steeple is in great decay.”
Nevertheless, bells continued to be rung. An entry from 2 November 1545 records: “Item the ringers viijd.” The use of the plural suggests that there was more than one bell.
The Seventeenth Century
We gain a clear impression of the tower’s condition from the 1603 archdeaconry survey: “The steeple hath many breaches and stony windowes which lye open to all weather. Much decayeth it and the roofe wanteth healing. The steeple in many places wide open, very hurtfull to the timber work and the bells. The weather cock is blowne downe.” This description of a stone tower, with a spire and weathercock, corresponds closely with the painting mentioned above.
By 1662, the detached tower had collapsed, and a new tower was built adjoining the church: “there was never any steeple belonginge to the church, but a tower fomerly belonginge to a ruined castle, somewhat remote from the church, where the bells hunge, but is latelie fallen downe, the bells preserved, and a newe steeple now annexed to the church is allmost the fourth part finished.”
The tenor bell was reported unringable in 1621, though the presentment does not make clear whether the bell itself was cracked or whether the fittings had failed, perhaps the latter: “Wee present that the biggest of our bells is broken, so that it cannot be rung.”
A painting dated 1805 by Sharpe shows a rectangular section of stonework at the west end of the church. As the tower built in 1662 had collapsed by 1724, it seems likely that these are its remains.
Unfortunately, having a bell tower so close to the sea comes at a cost. The elements are unkind to coastal structures, as shown by 16th-century references to the tower’s condition. The first appears in a will dated 12 April 1541: “To ye reperation of ye Stepull of Selsey vjs viijd.” The second comes from the churchwardens’ presentments of 1579, which worryingly state: “The steeple is in great decay.”
Nevertheless, bells continued to be rung. An entry from 2 November 1545 records: “Item the ringers viijd.” The use of the plural suggests that there was more than one bell.
The Seventeenth Century
We gain a clear impression of the tower’s condition from the 1603 archdeaconry survey: “The steeple hath many breaches and stony windowes which lye open to all weather. Much decayeth it and the roofe wanteth healing. The steeple in many places wide open, very hurtfull to the timber work and the bells. The weather cock is blowne downe.” This description of a stone tower, with a spire and weathercock, corresponds closely with the painting mentioned above.
By 1662, the detached tower had collapsed, and a new tower was built adjoining the church: “there was never any steeple belonginge to the church, but a tower fomerly belonginge to a ruined castle, somewhat remote from the church, where the bells hunge, but is latelie fallen downe, the bells preserved, and a newe steeple now annexed to the church is allmost the fourth part finished.”
The tenor bell was reported unringable in 1621, though the presentment does not make clear whether the bell itself was cracked or whether the fittings had failed, perhaps the latter: “Wee present that the biggest of our bells is broken, so that it cannot be rung.”
A painting dated 1805 by Sharpe shows a rectangular section of stonework at the west end of the church. As the tower built in 1662 had collapsed by 1724, it seems likely that these are its remains.
1724: "There are 4 bells, but not hung up; the tower where they formerly hung is fallen down. They seem good bells, and worth hanging."
The first bell with a known founder
Charles and George Mears supplied a single bell in 1844, weighing 7-1-13 cwt. It was cast with a stamped inscription and conventional canons. Interestingly, during Tyssen’s survey in 1864, he notes that this was the only bell at Selsey, suggesting that the earlier bells were either recast into this one or scrapped. Some may have been sold to help fund the new bell.
Its life at St Wilfrid’s did not last long, as the church underwent a major project in 1866.
The first bell with a known founder
Charles and George Mears supplied a single bell in 1844, weighing 7-1-13 cwt. It was cast with a stamped inscription and conventional canons. Interestingly, during Tyssen’s survey in 1864, he notes that this was the only bell at Selsey, suggesting that the earlier bells were either recast into this one or scrapped. Some may have been sold to help fund the new bell.
Its life at St Wilfrid’s did not last long, as the church underwent a major project in 1866.
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The 1866 project
Plans were first made in 1837 to build a new church for Selsey, but nothing came to fruition until 1864–66. The entire nave was relocated two miles to the south-west, to the present site of St Peter’s, Selsey. What remains at Church Norton today is the chancel, which had to be retained in accordance with ecclesiastical law. A new west end and chancel were constructed at St Peter’s. Mears & Stainbank cast a single bell in 1865, weighing around 1 cwt, with a short inscription and a peg canon. It was originally hung in a large 9.A frame on the roof, which likely explains why George Elphick was unable to record its diameter. The earlier bell by Charles and George Mears was transferred to the new church. |
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The latest recorded date for this turret is 1945, identified through Historic England’s photographic archives. It was replaced by the present 9.E frame sometime between 1945 and 1954. The frame houses a single bell, hung for swing chiming using a lever. The metal fittings are now fairly weathered, though still structurally sound. Access to the bell requires a 30-rung ladder.
Today, the early historic features of the site, such as the castle, bell tower, and cathedral are long since gone. The foundations of the ancient bell tower now lie buried beneath the ground, while the cathedral and castle are said to have been lost to the sea. The latest reference to the cathedral appears in the will of William Reed, dated 1 August 1382: “et corpus meu ad sepeliend plane coram sumo altari in Cancello sce Trinitatis Seleseye quondam dioc mei ecclie Cath” (“And that my body be buried before the high altar in the chancel of the Church of the Holy Trinity at Selsey, formerly of my diocesan cathedral church.”).
The church is now in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust.
Visited with Bill Hibbert, 26/06/24.
Today, the early historic features of the site, such as the castle, bell tower, and cathedral are long since gone. The foundations of the ancient bell tower now lie buried beneath the ground, while the cathedral and castle are said to have been lost to the sea. The latest reference to the cathedral appears in the will of William Reed, dated 1 August 1382: “et corpus meu ad sepeliend plane coram sumo altari in Cancello sce Trinitatis Seleseye quondam dioc mei ecclie Cath” (“And that my body be buried before the high altar in the chancel of the Church of the Holy Trinity at Selsey, formerly of my diocesan cathedral church.”).
The church is now in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust.
Visited with Bill Hibbert, 26/06/24.
Recording of the bell:
How the bell is tuned in relation to the nominal.
-99 ~ -90 -89 ~ -80 -79 ~ -70 -69 ~ -60 -59 ~ -50 -49 ~ -40 -39 ~ -30 -29 ~ -20 -19 ~ -10 -9 ~ -0
0 ~ 9 10 ~ 19 20 ~ 29 30 ~ 39 40 ~ 49 50 ~ 59 60 ~ 69 70 ~ 79 80 ~ 89 90 ~ 99+
0 ~ 9 10 ~ 19 20 ~ 29 30 ~ 39 40 ~ 49 50 ~ 59 60 ~ 69 70 ~ 79 80 ~ 89 90 ~ 99+
Hum - 631.5Hz - Eb+26
Prime - 1005.5Hz - B+31
Tierce - 1383Hz - F-16 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1850.5Hz - Bb-12
Nominal - 2328Hz - D-15
Prime - 1005.5Hz - B+31
Tierce - 1383Hz - F-16 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1850.5Hz - Bb-12
Nominal - 2328Hz - D-15
| church_norton.mp3 |
Inscriptions:
*Underlined text is around the inscription band*
1866 - Present
1 |
MEARS & STAINBANK, FOUNDERS, LONDON, 1865. |
1844 - 1866
1 |
C & G MEARS FOUNDERS LONDON 1844 |
Photographs:
*Click on the images to enlarge them*
Sources:
© Kye L Leaver 2025. All rights reserved.
- BARHAM, Joan & FOSTER, Andrew (2018): Church Surveys of Chichester Archdeaconry 1602, 1610 & 1636
- ELPHICK, George. P (1970): Sussex Bells & Belfries
- FORD, Wyn. K (1994): Chichester Diocesan Surveys 1686 & 1724
- JOHNSTONE, Hilda M.A (1947-8): Churchwardens' Presentments (17th Century) Part I. Archdeaconry of Chichester
- TYSSEN, Amhurst. D (1864): The Church Bells of Sussex
- ALDSWORTH, Fred. G. B.A (1979): 'THE MOUND' AT CHURCH NORTON, SELSEY, AND THE SITE OF ST. WILFRID'S CHURCH Sussex Archaelogical Collections Vol* 117 p.103-107
- Church Conservation Trust church guide
- https://thebellsoftheisleofwight.weebly.com/st-helens-st-helen.html
- https://sussexparishchurches.org/church/selsey-st-peter/
- https://sussexparishchurches.org/church/selsey-st-wilfrid-church-norton/
© Kye L Leaver 2025. All rights reserved.
