Bosham is a gem on Chichester harbour and reputedly the oldest Christian site in Sussex. The Venerable Bede mentions that “an Irish (ie Celtic) monk named Dicul had a very small monastery in the place which is called Bosanham”, sometime in the 7th century. Bosham was probably settled long before that – the Romans were certainly in the area. The Saxons were too; although most of the church is modelled on a later medieval building, the oldest part of Holy Trinity church is Saxon and it is known that Earl Godwin, father of King Harold, the last Saxon king, had a manor at Bosham. In fact, Holy Trinity church appears in the Bayeux Tapestry – the chancel arch is recognisable, even now. Harold paid a visit before inadvertently dropping in on Duke William of Normandy in 1064.
A further notable feature of the church is a grave, thought to be that of one of King Cnut’s daughters, who drowned in a nearby millstream. Holy Trinity, Bosham, Sussex. Cnut (who is thought to have asked the waves to turn back at Bosham) had a palace nearby and it is believed his daughter is buried somewhere in the church. It is worth adding that some think King Harold himself may have been buried in Holy Trinity. In the 13th century, the Bishop of Exeter in the church established a college in the church. Other features include a 12th century font, a late 13th century effigy of a child (did that represent Cnut’s daughter?) and a 14th century crypt (possibly once used as a charnel house), though the magnificent chancel arch dominates when you enter.