Minehead churches
Church of England: Diocese of Bath and Wells
Parish Church of St Michael
St Michael's stands on North Hill, overlooking most of Minehead. It has fortunately avoided over restoration and retains many old features. The main walls and south porch appear to date from the 14th century and the tower from the 15th century. Inside is a nave, large chancel, north aisle and vestry that was once a sailors' chapel. The weight of the roof was pushing the arcade columns outwards and the roof and columns had to be rebuilt in 1886. At the same time many of the old wooden furnishings were replaced. Luckily the fine, long 15th century screen survived. The embattled turret that contains the stairs to the roof loft has four windows that are considered to have been designed to show lights out to sea for sailors. Until the Victorian restoration the rood loft had seats and protective panelling for Sunday School children who could sit there and gaze down on the congregation below. Near the altar is a stone effigy of a priest dating from about 1410. Such effigies are rare and this is one of the best of its kind. Other features of interest include the early Perpendicular font carved with seated figures and an illuminated vellum missal from about 1400.
Vicar: The Revd Simon Lloyd
Tel:(01643) 703530
Church of St Andrew
Minehead grew up around North Hill and the harbour. The flat, low ground was wet meadows and marshes and was not greatly developed until Minehead grew as a holiday resort in the 19th century. There then came a need for a more central Anglican church to serve the growing population in the new part of the town. St Andrews was built in Wellington Square in 1880. It was the gift of Charlotte Luttrell, the wife of the vicar. It is built in the local soft red sandstone in the Decorated style of Gothic. It has a nave, chancel, two aisles, hammer beam roof and large east window with stained glass. A tower that was planned was never built.
Vicar: The Revd Simon Lloyd
Tel:(01643) 703530
Chapel of St Peter
This sailors' chapel can be found next to the Ship Aground pub on the harbourside at Minehead. It was built in 1628 as a storeroom for local merchant and benefactor Robert Quirke. It was known as Gibraltar Celler and was still used for storing timber and coal until 1910, when it was converted into the chapel. It has a single rectangular room with an altar at the end opposite the door. On the walls paintings with a nautical theme. An outside flight of steps leads to a room above.
Vicar: The Revd Simon Lloyd
Tel:(01643) 703530
Church of St Michael, Alcombe
Alcombe was once part of Dunster ecclesiastical parish and it became part of Minehead as recently as 1953. It is thought that there was once a medieval chapel of ease in Manor Road. A former Independent Chapel in Grove Place became an Anglican chapel of ease in 1892. The present church was opened in 1903 and a new chancel and chapel were built in 1937. It has a 15th century stone doorway that came from Dunster church.
Catholic church: Clifton Deanery/Minehead parish
The church of The Sacred Heart
This can be found in Townsend Road. It was built in 1896 in local red sandstone in the Decorated Gothic style. It was enlarged in 1900. Nearby is the former convent of St Theresa, now a retirement home.
Priest: Rev Michael Thomas
Address: 8 Townsend Road, Minehead, Somerset TA24 5RG.
Services: Sunday Mass: 11.00
Holy Days:9.00, 7pm
Weekdays: Morning Prayer 9.45, M 10am, Benediction: Fri 7pm.
Confessions: Sat 10.30 to 11
Website:http://www.sacredheartminehead.co.uk
Methodist Church: Plymouth and Exeter District
Minehead
John Wesley preached at Minehead in 1744. From 1810 there were regular meetings in private houses. Some Methodists also attended the chapel in Dunster. In 1871 a lease was taken from the Luttrell family of Dunster Castle for a plot of land in The Avenue. A church was built on the plot and soon (in 1886) enlarged to seat 500. It is built with a nave and two aisles in a simple Early English style. The adjacent hall is well used for public functions.
Alcombe
During the early 19th century Alcombe Methodists joined those at Minehead or Dunster but from 1825 services were held in private houses in the village. In 1850 a chapel was erected on the old Quaker burial ground in Combeland Road. In 1930 a new chapel was opened in Lower Meadow Road. The brick building is faced with Portland stone. The old chapel reverted to the Quakers and was then sold for private housing.
United Reformed Church
Minehead
Land was given for this church in Bancks Street by the Luttrell family of Dunster Castle. Congregational meetings were held in a public hall for the two years that it took to build the church until it opened in 1904. The church was built of local red sandstone with a small belfry and a combined schoolroom. A hall was later added alongside and church was enlarged into the schoolroom. The public library stands adjacent, on land originally reserved for the Manse.
Services:Sunday, 10.30 am
Minister: Rev. Jeff Tunningley
Website: www.mineheadurc.net
Baptist Church
There are records of Baptists in Minehead from 1656 and meeting house was established in 1760. In 1817, a small church was erected in Periton with assistance from Lord King. In 1831 the present chapel was built in Parks Lane. The Periton Church was in use until about 1880 when the lease ran out. It became a barn, then a private house. In 1902 the chapel was enlarged to its present size. A vestry, schoolrooms and kitchen were added and in 1992 and 2000 the buildings were again modernised.
Services: Sunday, 10.30, 18.00
Website:http://www.minehead-baptist.com
Independent Evangelical Churches
Millbridge Evangelical Church
Under the name of the Millbridge Baptist Evangelical Mission, services for this group were held in the Womens' Institute hall from 1932. In 1936 the present brick built building was erected in Parkhouse Road, opposite Millbridge Road. The present name was given in 1946 and extensions have since been made to the attached rooms.
Services:10:30 18:30
Pastor: Rev M J Cottington 39 Lower Park, Minehead, Somerset, TA24 8AY Tel 01643 709978
Plymouth Brethren
Alcombe Chapel
From about 1900 members of the Plymouth Brethren held meetings in Minehead. In 1925 they spent £45 on buying the old Victoria Reading Room at Alcombe and moved it to the site of the old brickyard in Hopcott Road. This was replaced in 1957 with a purpose-built chapel, complete with auxilliary rooms and car park.