The family friendly church is down a short lane off the Chichester to Selsey road, by some thatched cottages.

The manor of Sidlesham was conferred by the Saxon monarch Cædwalla on Saint Wilfred, as a portion of his gift to the see of Selsey.

[3] The gift was confirmed by William the Conqueror and the manor remained in church hands until the reign of Elizabeth I.

[5] The north chapel and part of the Chancel were allowed to fall into ruin, probably in the early 16th century, but were rebuilt, using much of the original materials, shortly after 1660.

During this rebuilding, the east window was moved to the current position, giving the church the unusual T-shape it has now.

It seems possible that, at some time, there was a disagreement about this since, to make it absolutely clear two small stones inscribed, "Chancel Boundary, 1814" were inserted in the eastern columns.

It was removed from the church, during the Civil War and its weather-beaten and rather battered appearance may be the result of it having been buried during this time.

In the 15th century, the tower was added, complete with a minstrel's gallery; at the same time bells were hung, music for the services would have been provided by a village orchestra, comprising flute, fife, bassoon and fiddle.

[6] In its former location in Oxford the organ was regularly played by the pianist and composer Jack Gibbons who as a child held the position of organist at the Radcliffe Infirmary's St Luke's Chapel.

[10] St Mary's has a particularly fine acoustic and is the home of a long-established concert series "Music in Church", as well as being the venue for other performances.