Editing Wilfrid (section)

== Missions in Sussex ==
[[File:Selsey - West Sussex dot.png|Map showing the location of Selsey|thumb| upright |right|alt=Map showing Selsey on the southern coast of England in the central section.]]
Wilfrid spent the next five years preaching to, and converting the pagan inhabitants of Sussex, the South Saxons. He also founded [[Selsey Abbey]],<ref name=EncASE /> on an estate near Selsey of 87 [[Hide (unit)|hides]], given to Wilfrid by Æthelwealh, king of the South Saxons.<ref name=Tyler149>Tyler "Reluctant Kings" ''History'' p. 149</ref> Bede attributes Wilfrid's ability to convert the South Saxons to his teaching them how to fish, and contrasts it with the lack of success of the Irish monk Dicuill.<ref name=Coates180>Coates "Role of Bishops" ''History'' p. 180</ref> Bede also says that the Sussex area had been experiencing a drought for three years before Wilfrid's arrival, but miraculously when Wilfrid arrived, and started baptising converts, rain began to fall.<ref name=Barbarian244>Fletcher ''Barbarian Conversion'' p. 244</ref> Wilfrid worked with Bishop [[Erkenwald]] of London, helping to set up the church in Sussex. Erkenwald also helped reconcile Wilfrid and Theodore before Theodore's death in 690.<ref name=Kings56>Yorke ''Kings and Kingdoms'' p. 56</ref> The mission was jeopardised when King Æthelwealh died during an invasion of his kingdom by [[Cædwalla of Wessex]].<ref name=Reassess34 /> Wilfrid previously had contact with Cædwalla, and may have served as his spiritual advisor before Cædwalla's invasion of Sussex.<ref name=Earliest100 /> After Æthelwealh's death and Cædwalla's accession to the throne of Wessex, Wilfrid became one of the new king's advisors, and the king was converted.<ref name=Making50 /> Cædwalla confirmed Æthelwealh's grant of land in the Selsey area and Wilfrid built his [[Cathedral|cathedral church]] near the entrance to [[Pagham Harbour]], believed to be what is now [[St Wilfrid's Chapel, Church Norton|Church Norton]].<ref>Mee ''History of Selsey'' pp. 12–13</ref>

Cædwalla sent Wilfrid to the [[Isle of Wight]], which was still pagan, with the aim of converting the inhabitants.<ref name=Reassess34 />{{efn|When Wilfrid returned to Northumbria, he gave the Wight mission to his nephew,<ref name=Reassess34 /> Beornwine, who was not apparently an ordained priest.<ref name=Society90>Blair ''Church in Anglo-Saxon Society'' p. 90</ref>}} The king also gave Wilfrid a quarter of the land on the island as a gift.<ref name=Kings164>Yorke ''Kings and Kingdoms'' p. 164</ref> In 688, the king relinquished his throne and went on a pilgrimage to Rome to be baptised, but died shortly after the ceremony.<ref name=Making50>Kirby ''Making of Early England'' p. 50</ref> Wilfrid was probably influential in Cædwalla's decision to be baptised in Rome.<ref name=Earliest100 />

During his time in Sussex Wilfrid was reconciled with Archbishop Theodore; the ''Vita Sancti Wilfrithi'' says that Theodore expressed a desire for Wilfrid to succeed him at Canterbury.<ref name=Earliest102>Kirby ''Earliest English Kings'' p. 102</ref> Wilfrid may have been involved in founding monasteries near [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]] as well as in other parts of Sussex, but the evidence backing this is based on the wording used in the founding charters resembling wording used by Wilfrid in other charters, not on any concrete statements that Wilfrid was involved.<ref name=Society96>Blair ''Church in Anglo-Saxon Society'' p. 96</ref>