Monday 29 January 2007

All Saints Church: East Huntspill. (Church of England)


Prior to it's building in 1846, during the Industrial Revolution, the reader should follow the history of St Peter & All Hallows, West Huntspill.


Following the building of a Methodist Chapel on the eastern boundaries of the parish of Huntspill at Bason Bridge, The then Rector, not liking the competition received support from the diocese to build a Chapel of Ease in the same vicinity. The community grew and within 10 years it became the village and parish of East Huntspill, with its own incumbent. As with St Peter & All Hallows the church of All Saints is still also under the patronage of Balliol College, Oxford.
On the resigination of the vicar in 1974 the parish became part of the Joint Benefice of St Peter & All Hallows, West Huntspill and All Saints East Huntspill.


The church was built in the neo romensque stile with a bell tower being added to the porch in 1966 in memory of the Mr & Mrs Frank Puddy. This rural church still boasts of box pews in the Nave but now with a clear area at the west end around the font which used to house old 'school type' forms or benches. The church still has an east - facing altar and a number of stained glass windows including one donated in 1877 by Mrs Dean of Huntspill and Miss E Oliver of a window designed by Mr Constable of Cambridge, entitled 'Suffer the little children to come unto me'.


Across from the church, in Church Lane, is the church hall. This building was originally erected as a school room with the school house attached (Church Cottage). The hall is still in great demand and the school house now is privately owned.
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Further historical information can be found in a recently produced booklet 'In The Beginning' by the Huntspill History Action Group, edited by Mr Roy Kenning.
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If I can be of any further assistance please contact me, the Reverend Geoffrey Walsh: telephone 01278 793950, Email walsh007@talktalk.net