Churches of the British Isles

The earlier Porlock Wesleyan Methodist Chapel stands at the south-west corner of the junction between the High Street and Sparkhayes Lane. The likelihood is that it originally opened as Brethren or Evangelical, before being adopted by the Wesleyans. It was taken over in 1836 following High Street preaching (see above), but by 1908 it was too small. Its replacement opened in 1927. Today, much altered no doubt, it serves as Ziangs at the Olde Chapel.

The Church of St Dubricius, Porlock, contains the Harington Chantry or Lady Chapel. The church is set deep within the south-east corner of the High Street and Parson's Street junction. It contains some remains of thirteenth century work in various areas, plus fragments of an Anglo-Saxon Bath stone cross. The tower dates to the eleventh century, the south arcade is of the late 1200s or early 1300s, while the porch and east vestry or sacristy were added in the 1400s.

The spire was damaged in 1703, seemingly due to a storm, and the screen was removed in 1769. The tower finally underwent restoration in 1889. The whole church underwent restoration in 1892, overseen by J D Sedding. The building consists of a west tower, four-bay nave and south aisle, south chapel, north porch, north-east choir vestry with organ chamber, and a chancel with south east priest's vestry. The outer walls are blue lias and red sandstone random rubble.

Lord John of Harington left a will of 1417 which directed two priests to be appointed 'to celebrate divine service and to pray for the souls of my father and mother and all my ancestors'. This led to the foundation within the church of the Harington Chantry, but apparently not until July 1474. A royal licence was granted by Henry VI for the chantry's foundation. The chantry's priests usually came from Cleeve Abbey (see links). Now it is better known as the Lady Chapel.

The former Victoria Church Rooms, Porlock, are on the eastern side of Parson's Street, on the south flank of St Dubricius church and car park. The rooms are dated 1897, intended to mark the diamond jubilee of Queen Victoria. The top floor was for church meetings and the ground floor was a reading room. The building is a mix of neo-Vernacular with front-projecting round stack and Arts & Crafts details, although it has since been converted into a private residence.

Photos on this page kindly contributed by Huw Thomas (three), Joseph Rogers (two), and Tony Ethridge, all via the 'History Files: Churches of the British Isles' Flickr group. Additional information by Huw Thomas.