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Churches of the British Isles

Gallery: Churches of Somerset

by Peter Kessler, 24 January 2020

SW&T (Taunton Deane) Part 13: Churches of North Curry to Creech St Michael

North Curry & Curland Methodist Church, Somerset

North Curry & Curland Methodist Church is on the eastern side of Windmill Hill near the centre of the village of North Curry, immediately south of the junction with Greenway. The original building dates from 1833 with a later extension of about 1900 for school rooms that were added to the frontage. Presumably (in this shot) the older building is farther from the camera as this backs onto the Methodist burial ground beyond it (just visible), which is in very good condition.

North Curry Independent Baptist Church, Somerset

North Curry Independent Baptist Church is on the western side of Windmill Hill, on the southern approach to North Curry. The building also stands on the western side of its own burial ground. It is marked as Ebenezer Chapel on the OS 25-inch map of 1892-1914, having been built in 1825. It has been relatively recently repaired and partially refurbished by its also recently independent Baptist congregation. Its design is a larger version of Burrowbridge's chapel.

Ham Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Somerset

Ham Wesleyan Methodist Chapel is on the north side of White Street in Ham, the second building east of a little lane that crosses the River Tone. Registered in the easternmost side (closest to the camera) of what is now Ham Cottage, it was then seemingly one of three adjoining cottages. It closed in 1915. A conversation with the current resident (2019) revealed that the cottages were owned and had been fully refurbished by the new owners, its neighbours (to the east).

Charlton on the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal, Somerset

Charlton played host to two meetings at unknown locations within this hamlet which lays alongside the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal (shown here to include the access bridge to Charlton). In 1669 there was a conventicle, probably at Charlton, with four teachers and two hundred hearers. Two meeting houses were licensed in 1689, one probably for Presbyterians and one for Quakers who had been meeting in the parish by 1674. John Wesley was an occasional visitor.

North End Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Creech St Michael, Somerset

North End Wesleyan Methodist Chapel seemingly stood on the eastern side of North End (shown here), a little way north of Dillons House (formerly farm) at Creech St Michael. A house in Creech St Michael was registered for Methodist worship by Joseph Earnshaw on 4 April 1839. The North End chapel functioned at least between 1842-1855. There was also a North End Quaker Meeting, precise location unknown, which was active in the 1700s but was sold in 1804.

Creech St Michael Baptist Church, Somerset

Creech St Michael Baptist Church is at the south-east corner of St Michael Road and Ryesland Way. It originated in an earlier chapel of 1824, although independents had been meeting even before that date. Mr James Blatch Cox of Silver Street Baptist Church led the way. A school was formed in 1816 and Zion Baptist Church was built in 1824 (now the site of the car park). The present building replaced it in 1983, allowing the old one to be demolished.

All photos on this page by P L Kessler. Former Taunton Deane area church names and locations kindly confirmed by South West Heritage Trust.


Images reproduced
 

 

     
Images and text copyright © all contributors mentioned on this page. An original feature for the History Files.