8 
opposite coast. The remains of a-Roman station prove it to have 
been known to the early conquerors of this kingdom, and it was 
also one of the most ancient Saxon establishments. But the era to 
which we can refer with greater precision, is that of the grant of this 
peninsula by Edilwalch, king of the South Saxons, and confirmed by 
Ceadwalla, to Wilfrid, the exiled bishop of York, about the year 680, 
at which time it is stated to have consisted of 5220 acres of land, to- 
gether with 85 families and 250 peasants or slaves for agricultural 
purposes. Wilfrid, who has deservedly been styled saint and apostle, 
made the abolition of slavery the first requisition of the Christian re- 
ligion, and these 250 slaves were baptized by him and made free. 
The encroachment of the sea on Selsey Island* during the lapse of 
the last eight hundred years has been very extensive. We learn that 
the creek called Pagham Harbour on the south-east side was the effect 
of a sudden irruption not many years before 1345, when 1700 acres 
of land were destroyed ; and on the south side, the Bishop’s Park, 
formerly of great extent, has been absorbed within a few acres. 
This peninsula consisted of 5220 acres as before stated, and the 
parish now contaims only 2880. Of the ancient cathedral and epi- 
scopal palace, supposed to have been situated to the south-east of the 
present church, there are no remains}: what was left of the primeval 
church was taken down to construct the present, im which are two 
Saxon stone coffin-lids made of Purbeck marble, and several other 
slabs of the same material. The Font is very ancient, and made also 
* The terms Island and Peninsula have been applied to Selsey parish, as it was formerly sur- 
rounded by the sea. 
+ The site is said to have been nearly a mile in what is now sea. 
The sea now rolls in triumph o’er the ground 
Where once thy sacred edifice was rear’d ; 
No mark, no stone to trace thy wall is found: 
All, all is gone, as if thou ne’er appear’d. 
