Churches and Chapels

This small Norman Church, dedicated to St Helen, has an embattled tower with three bells. A north aisle was added to the church, of Domesday date, during the 12th century. The tower was built during the 15th century, and a clerestory was added. In 1900 the circular Norman font was recovered, after serving some time as a water trough at the local Bull and Butcher Inn. A Jacobean alter table has also been recovered.

The church has suffered from ground subsidence, most likely due to the coal mining in the area. It had some alterations in 1888, and was greatly repaired and enlarged in 1904-5 at a cost of nearly $5,000. The stone was provided by the 7th Earl Cowper and the Butterley Company. In 1950, a further Ł7,500 was needed to repair extensive damage done by the death watch beetle.

A church was built at Underwood in 1889, and dedicated to St Michael & All Angels. It was commisssioned by Earl Cowper and cost Ł5,000.. The clock in the tower was installed in 1920, as a memorial to the local men lost in World War I.

The church of St Mary was built at Westwood in 1898, and opened on 18th May that year. Lord Cowper gave both the site for the church, and funds towards its construction - which cost Ł2,000 not including the tower.

Selston's churchyard is an interesting mix of old and new gravestones. It appears to have been extended at some point.

Selston churchyard is the final resting place of Dan Boswell, a King of the Gypsies.

Dan Boswell
Gipsy King
1737-1827

I've lodged in many a town,
I've travelled many a year;
But death at length has
                              brought me down,
to my last lodging here.

For many years after his burial gypsies returned to Selston to pay their respects, and many new-born babies were brought by gypsy families to be baptised at St Helens.

Selston's Independent or Congregational Church was first opened around 1670 at Dove Green (Nottingham Road). It has also been known as Presbyterian and Free Church. The surviving building was built c1800, but has had many alterations, including in 1912, and further restored in 1927. Another Congregartional Chapel was built at Westwood in 1869

The Methodists were well supported, with the Middle Methodist Chapel being built at Dove Green in 1839. The Inkerman Methodist Chapel opened 1869, while the Portland Row Methodist Chapel was built in 1882. There was also the Trinity Methodist Chapel at Pye Hill.

There are also mentions of Calvinist chapel at Selston in Kelly's Nottinghamshire Directory of 1881.