Churches of the British Isles

Temple Methodist Church, Budleigh Salterton, is on Fore Street's north side, about sixty-five metres west of Fore Street Hill. With a John Wesley loan, James Lackington moved here from London and bought a house in Fore Street with land behind it. The first chapel was built here in 1812. He also built his own house in front of the chapel in what is now the car park. The school hall on the right was added in 1884. The old chapel was replaced in 1904-1905 by today's building.

The Rolle Chapel in Budleigh Salterton straddled East Terrace, with the houses shown here sitting across the old chancel site. The town was part of All Saints East Budleigh parish (see 'related links') until 1900 but, in 1812, this chapel-of-ease was built with a dedication to name it Holy Trinity Chapel. However, it was usually known as the Rolle Chapel as it had been financed by the Rolle family. It was too small by 1891 so it was replaced by St Peter's Church (see below).

St Peter's Parish Church, Budleigh Salterton, is at the south-east corner of the junction between The Lawn and West Terrace. Although the Rolle Chapel (see above) had provided chapel-of-ease services to the town since 1812, by 1891 it was too small for the growing population. Once again the Rolle family stepped in, offering land on 'The Lawn' and funds for the building work. The church was designed by architect George Fellowes Prynne in the Early English style.

Building work was handled by Luscombe & Sons of Exeter. The original design included a tower with a spire which was to be erected above the baptistry to a height of forty-three metres, but this was never built. The foundation stone was laid in 1891, with limestone walls being erected and interior carvings using Beer stone with Ashburton marble columns. The church was consecrated on 25 April 1893. Bomb damage in 1942 was quickly repaired, being finalised by 1953.

The Church on the Green is at the south-eastern corner of the Station Road and Westfield Road junction in Budleigh Salterton. The building is shown as a hall on the OS 25-inch map of 1892-1914. It is also not marked as a church on later maps, which usually signifies a small evangelical congregation and shared usage. Available records suggest a building date of 1811 but nothing else can be found about it or those groups which still meet in this attractive building.

Photos on this page kindly contributed by Michael Downes, Andrew Stopford (two), JMC4 - Church Explorer, and Paul Featherstone, all via the 'History Files: Churches of the British Isles' Flickr group.