Alcombe Methodist Church
Lower Meadow Road
Alcombe
Minehead TA24 6AN

Sunday Worship: 10.30am

We are a friendly and active church. Current regular meetings include
Wesley Guild / Fellowship Meetings, Women's Bright Hour, Toddler's Group, and monthly Prayer Meetings

Our History

As far as records are available, the Methodist cause at Alcombe was started in approximately 1849, when a group of Methodists who had previously worshipped at Dunster for over 40 years, decided to have their own Chapel and in 1846 negotiations commenced with the Society of Friends to either purchase or lease a strip of land in Combland Road, which was the disused Quaker Burial Ground. The Friends agreed to "allow the erection of a school" on a 22ft strip of land, this piece they would lease to the Methodists at 2/6d per year, retaining the right to reclaim it if no meetings were held for 12 months.

Consequently in 1847, a Chapel was built there for £150, it was difficult to raise the full amount and a debt of £60 advanced by a William Symons was not discharged until 1857 when the Circuit took over the Chapel. There were only 6 or 7 members, but by 1860 other members had joined, some from Minehead.

In 1868 it was repainted, refurbished and a stable built at the rear to shelter the preacher’s horse and to use as a store for school forms. The Quakers stated "let it be a tidy building". There were 2 Services on a Sunday, a quarterly communion Service and an annual Love Feast.

The assessment to the Circuit in 1857 was 5/- (25p) per quarter, candles for lighting 39p(16p), cutting the grass 6d (2p).

 After the opening of the Minehead Chapel in 1857, worshippers decreased and pew-holders dropped to 4, ‘with only one Service, but revived with the advent of mission bands and special attention given to the children in the area, the cause flourished again and joint evangelistic meetings were held with the Minehead Church at the Minehead Town Hall.

In 1895 a meeting was held in Mr Ebenezer Culverwell's schoolroom to discuss building a new chapel in a more suitable location at Alcombe Cross on a site owned by MrLuttrell, but this was not proceeded with.

By 1920 the premises were inadequate and in 1929 Rev. John Cartwright (father of Rev. Alfred Cartwright) was determined that Alcombe should have a new Chapel and; mainly due to his enthusiasm, the present building was erected on land procured from Mr Luttrell. The tender of Mr W.E.Dewar £1373.15.0d was accepted, to be completed in 5 months. The stone-laying was fixed for May 20th 1931. The Rev. Arndud Scott (Chairman of the District) was present with Rev. Brian O’Gorman, the probationer at Porlock. Rev Dr Ferrier Hulme was the preacher. Tea was held in the village hall at the opening on October 14th 1931. The Financial report on the cost of the work was given by Mr Howells (the father of Mrs Rogers and Mrs Rees), 200 chairs were purchased, a Mr Lock provided the primary chairs and blackboards. A brass tablet to the memory of Ebenezer Culverwell (still in the Chapel) cost £7.l8.6d, less 20% discount £6.6.5d. A tea was prepared in the village hall.

The Church went from strength to strength and on Wednesday November 16th 1938 a new pipe organ replaced the American organ (installed by Osmonds of Taunton). The opener was Mr Frank Cox, organist Lord St Audries, Chairman Mr T.H.Hosegood. The Service was conducted by Rev Arthur R Slater, supported by Rev Kidd (Dunster) and Rev Arthur Ankers (Porlock). Tea was served in the village hall (9d.each, children 6d.). There was an evening public meeting, an organ recital by Mr A.C.Hioms (Avenue organist), Chairman, Mr G.H.Stainer of Taunton. The financial statement was given by Mr Howells and a vote of thanks proposed by Mr John Winter. The cost was £315 (the overhaul in 1987 cost £1380). An extra oak screen was placed at the back of the organ, made by Mr W.C.Sage, “to shield the shy young organist”, his daughter Violet, who was previously organist at Dunster Chapel and continued until 1998.

In 1935 three gas radiators were installed for £36.

In 1936 the exterior of the Church was decorated. Mr Dewar’s tender accepted for £15/12.6d. A year later the interior was decorated by Mr Percy Tapp for £11.5.0d.

1937 saw the reformation of the Choir under Mr Rendell of Fownes Road. During 1939/45 war the Church was host to evacuees who shared in a weekly programme of lantern slides prepared by Mr Claydon. He also provided bibles for Sunday School scholars in later years. Mr Cook was thanked for “black-out” provided for the windows.

1944 saw the Church go on the new Model Deed.

1946 - a Nissen Hut was erected at the rear of the Church with an Otto anthracite stove, at a cost of £313.19.7d. and a bitumastic floor which became sticky and slippery when it was hot causing many black marks on children's clothing! This was replaced in 1966 by the present hall with the aid of bequests from Miss Heywood and the Rank organisation. Mr Fred Taylor (Rev Ralph Taylor’s father) performed the opening ceremony. Rev Frank Crump was the Superintendent Minister and Mr Rex Batten drew the plans. During the alterations the Senior Sunday School classes met in the teachers’ homes and the junior and primary sections still met in the Church. Many Sunday School outings were arranged to Horner, Holford Glen, Burnham on Sea, Bristol Zoo, Weston-super-Mare and Ilfracombe etc.

1950 - the Centenary celebrations were held here on Sunday May 21st. Preacher Rev Richard Pyke (former President)

On Thursday 24th May Rev D. Maldwyn Edwards (Supt. Birmingham Mission, and future President) preached. The Chairman was Rev John Mountfordon behalf of Mr J.B.Marley (Senior Trustee), held in high esteem.

1952 - a new Trust was formed, as trustees had died.

1974 - a new porch was built at the front of the Church. Rev John Morrell was our Minister at the opening.

1981 - Golden Jubilee Celebrations of our present building were held from 12th to 18th October. Rev Henry White was our Minister and Rev Paul Hulme preached. A week of activities and an exhibition was arranged.

A description of the new chapel in Lower Meadow Road:

The Chapel was built on land adjoining the first Council House. Beyond it was open grass-land from the front end of the Church to the end of Lower Meadow Road to the Co-op shop. What is now the car-park, coffee lounge and kitchen was garden, mostly used for growing vegetables by a succession of Church members. Iron gates were at the foot of the steps from where the path turned right to the front door which faced the present car-park. The entrance porch was very small in fact it was later known as “Steve’s Sentry Box’” when Steven Fuszard was the very faithful steward, there at every Service, morning and evening. The wooden floor had no covering of course and halfway along the right of the aisle was a coal burning stove which actually made it quite warm, thanks to the elderly care-taker, Mr Charles Bryant, who walked down from Combeland Road VERY early in the morning to light it.

The walls of the side-rooms were covered by large black-boards and the three screens were drawn across regularly for afternoon Sunday-School use, so we could have a class in each corner of the Church, two in the side rooms and the primary and beginners in the Choir Vestry.

The recessed wall at the back of the pulpit was beautifully painted with pink-tinged white billowy clouds, stars and a Cross. The wording was as it is now. The material backing the pulpit was blue and the uprights to the Communion rail were blue and gold. An American organ stood where the organ is now, small in comparison, so that the whole front had a symmetrical look,

Going through the door by the pulpit steps and along the short passage a door straight ahead opened into the kitchen (now the office). This held two built-in, floor to ceiling, large cupboards for crockery, hymn-books, Sunday-School equipment and electricity meter etc., a table, and under the window a sink and draining boards. To the left of the sink a door led to a wood and coal store and a toilet. There was no back door but always the one on the side to lead into the vestry and passage.

One of the money-raising efforts for the building, I remember, was the Sunday School children buying a brick. which they were allowed to lay. For the Sunday School scholars the cost was 5/- each (25p), a lot of money in 1931, so much so that they paid it in weekly amounts of a few pennies. It was a great moment for each of them when they laid their own brick in place.