12. St James, Selham
Follow the A272 four miles east of Midhurst, turn right to the small village of Selham and you will be pleasantly surprised. St James is a tiny Saxon church, the chancel only 13 feet long and the nave 25 feet, but it exudes great charm and beauty.
Looking east one immediately notices the unusual chancel arch with its Scandinavian carvings. These include mythical serpents apparently devouring their own tails, almost certainly of pre-Conquest origin. In contrast the stained glass windows are Victorian. Their predominantly red and blue colours suffuse the whole church with a lovely soft light as the sun shines through them. The three part East window depicts normal Biblical scenes such as the Nativity, the Annunciation, the Baptism of Christ, the Ascension and the Crucifixion. A window on the north wall of the chancel shows St Katherine, whilst opposite on the south side is St Margaret apparently slaying a dragon.
Other windows in the nave and south aisle are striking and unusual. They commemorate Egbert King of England, William Duke of Normandy, Taillefex Count of Angouleme, the arms of the Kingdoms of France and Castile and the Dukedom of Burgundy, as well as the crests of the Plantagenets, Scrope, Fitzalan and Bellasis families.
Apparently all were commissioned by the Reverend Robert Blackburn, Rector for 57 years between 1842 and 1899. A man of some wealth inherited from the wine trade, he married a Miss Clutterbuck, a supposed descendant of the Plantagenets. Proud of his 'blue blood' connections he spent years compiling a huge book on the genealogy of the great European royal and ducal families. He wrote in a letter after the windows were installed 'these are the Arms of my children's ancestors.' Whether true or not the windows add much to the beauty of the church.
Other interesting features include a 'squint' of unusual size between the Early English south aisle with its pointed arch and the chancel, whilst at the west end is a large eleventh century Norman tub font cut out of solid stone.
The village war memorial is prominently displayed, as well as two memorials to two of the men named. The one of Francis Lacaita M.C. of the 17th Lancers killed in 1918, is of marble and depicts St George in armour with his white horse alongside.
Ancient black beams cross the ceiling of the nave. High in the west wall is a plain lancet window and underneath a stained glass window showing the Wedding at Cana.
There is no tower or spire and only a single bell. The exterior stonework is of an attractive herringbone pattern.
All in all a 'vintage' church and well worth a detour to find it.
written by John Symonds
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