st mary's church, selmeston
At the heart of our village
The parish church has been at the heart of Selmeston for a thousand years and continues to play an important part in village life.
Selmeston Church in 1867
Selmeston is the only local church, with a priest, to be mentioned in the Domesday Book. Unusually, the churchyard is circular, with complex ley lines centred on the font. The church was rebuilt in 1867 copying or re-using some detail from the mainly C13 and C14 original church.
The Church today
Selmeston is now part of a benefice that comprises Selmeston with Alciston, Arlington, Berwick and Wilmington.
There is a list of vicars displayed in Selmeston church,
dating from 1350, and the church registers date from 1667.
historic features
Stained Glass Windows
Stained Glass Windows
Stained Glass Windows
The beautiful stained glass windows in the church are mainly copies of the originals: the East window being of the Decorated and the rest of the Perpendicular period.
North Chancel
Stained Glass Windows
Stained Glass Windows
The North Chancel window is of The Annunciation and is by
Charles E Kempe, 1905, in memory of W D Parish.
15th century arcade
Stained Glass Windows
15th century arcade
The timber arcade is early 15th century, but has been considerably restored. Such arcading is unique in Sussex churches.
Easter Sepulchre
Stained Glass Windows
15th century arcade
The Easter Sepulchre bears an inscription in memory of Beatrice Bray (d1532) Wife of Sir Edward Bray (Capt of Mary Rose 1513) and must date from shortly after her death, as such sepulchres ceased to be used after 1547.
A NEW STAINED GLASS WINDOW!
A dedication to June Mockett (1930 - 2018)
The Director of Stained Glass Conservation at the Canterbury Cathedral studios is designing a new stained glass window for Selmeston Church. The window has been designed around the Cuckmere Pilgrim Path and will be installed at the end of June to commemorate June Mockett, a dedicated former parishioner and deeply attached to the church.
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