 The tower would have been constructed in the 11th century or earlier as a fortification and not actually part of the church.A churchwarden's presentment from 1662 stated ""That there was never any steeple belonging to the church (at Selsey), but a tower formerly belonging to a ruined castle, somewhat remote from the church where the bells hung..."".It seems that the old tower lasted till 1602 when it blew down.