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    • Home
    • Community
      • Hire our Village Hall
      • Selmeston Church
      • Sports and Social Events
      • Getting Around
      • Parish News
    • Conservation
      • Conservation Area
      • Conservation Map
      • Listed Buildings
      • Environment and Wildlife
    • History
      • Pre-history
      • Romans and Saxons
      • Domesday to the present
      • Selmeston in Wartime
      • Selmeston famous faces
    • Local Government
      • Parish Meetings
      • Committees and Governance
      • The Parish Plan
    • Gallery
    • Useful Contacts

Selmeston Village

Selmeston VillageSelmeston VillageSelmeston Village
  • Home
  • Community
    • Hire our Village Hall
    • Selmeston Church
    • Sports and Social Events
    • Getting Around
    • Parish News
  • Conservation
    • Conservation Area
    • Conservation Map
    • Listed Buildings
    • Environment and Wildlife
  • History
    • Pre-history
    • Romans and Saxons
    • Domesday to the present
    • Selmeston in Wartime
    • Selmeston famous faces
  • Local Government
    • Parish Meetings
    • Committees and Governance
    • The Parish Plan
  • Gallery
  • Useful Contacts

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.

Selmeston Church 13th century piscina

13th century piscina

South Aisle brass plaque

13th century piscina

  

Selmeston Church 13th century piscina

Church Porch

Porch 1910

South Aisle brass plaque

13th century piscina

The church porch 1910

South Aisle brass plaque

South Aisle brass plaque

South Aisle brass plaque

 The plaque reads: The body of Henry Rogers a painfvll Preacher in this churche two and thirty yeeres who dyd the sixt of May Ano dni 1639, and in the yeere of his age 67 lyeth heere expecting the Second Coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ. 

'May day' 'May day'

South Aisle brass plaque

South Aisle brass plaque

 In the churchyard, one of the notable headstones is that of Frederick Stanley Mockford, originator of the distress call 'May Day'. The name is from the French m'aider. "Venez m'aider" means "come help me". 

Learn More about the air radio pioneer here

a new stained glass window

The new stained glass window for Selmeston Church has been installed. 

The window has been designed around the Cuckmere Pilgrim Path and commemorates June Mockett, 

a dedicated former parishioner and deeply attached to the church.  

Video Copyright Mairi Thomas. Photo Credit: Mairi Thomas photography.  

Read the full story below:

The new Selmeston window (pdf)Download

Plan a visit to Selmeston Church via the Cuckmere Pilgrim Path Circular walk

The church of Selmeston is one of seven churches you can visit on a circular walk called the Pilgrim Path. 

Download the route

join us for our next congregation

Join us

Click below to find out when the next congregation is at Selmeston Church.

Church Schedule

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