[8] In the middle years of the tenth century the South Saxon see with its episcopal seat at Selsey, was not thriving.

[9] In the 940s the local king had given some of the South Saxon see's lands to Brihthelm's predecessor, Bishop Ælfred of Selsey to be his "personal possession" and to bequeath as he chose.

Bishop Ælfsige of Winchester, seems to have taken advantage of the interregnum to seize a majority of what remained of Selsey's endowment.

[e][9] A 957 charter,[f]in Brihthelm's name, indicates how the bishop intended to have lands restored to the South Saxon see that were "uncanonically"[b] seized by Ælfsige.

[12] According to the diploma Brihthelm paid one hundred mancuses of pure gold to King Eadwig for the return of the diocesan lands.

The lands that Eadwig was to restore were to be enjoyed by Brihthelm in his lifetime and then returned "in perpetuity to the place where the episcopal seat of the South Saxons is situated".