As previously mentioned, Dunster has a long history and, given the activities of various Celtic missionaries in the area, there must have been a church here in Saxon times. However, following the Norman Conquest, Dunster was confiscated from its Saxon overlord and given to the De Mohun family which endowed the foundation of a Benedictine priory; a daughter cell of Bath Abbey.
| With the dissolution of the monasteries, ownership of the Priory Church passed to the Luttrell family, who own it to this day. This ownership gives the family the right to hold such services as they wish in the Priory (or Luttrell) Chapel. The tower, which was extended to its present height in 1443, contains, besides the clock, a carillon and a ring of eight bells. The carillon plays at four-hourly intervals throughout the day and night, with each day of the week having its own particular tune. The tower also has a band of ringers who practise every Thursday evening. |
| There are 92 on the Electoral Roll but, although the congregation tends to be small, around 20 to 30, the church itself attracts a large number of supporters who are very generous with their time and financial help. This generosity enabled us to replace the roofs at the eastern end of the church in 2004-2005. The number attending church naturally swells for certain special occasions such as Easter Sunday, Remembrance Sunday and Midnight Mass. At present, the normal monthly services are as follows: 8.15 am on every Sunday: Holy Communion (1662 Book of Common Prayer) · 11.00 am every first and third Sunday: Holy Communion · 11.00 am every second Sunday: Family Service and Sunday School · 11.00 am every fourth Sunday: Morning Prayer |