Porlock Methodist Church
High Street, Porlock TA24 8PU
Sunday Worship: 10.30am
Porlock Methodist Church serves both the local community and the continuous cycle of visitors to our beautiful village and the wider Porlock Vale.
The focus of the church’s life is Sunday Worship, as we gather to worship, pray together, and to hear the Bible explained. The morning service takes place at 10.30am, lasting an hour, with refreshments served at the end.
We have a House Group, a Prayer Group, and an active Choir. There are strong Women’s and Men’s Fellowships. Our downstairs premises are well used by community groups and other organisations. We also put on a varied programme of special events each year.
We are delighted at the deepening relationship in recent times with our brothers and sisters at the Parish Church, and our sharing together in worship, fellowship and mission.
From the Minister:We live in a fast-changing world, but we believe the central Christian message has not changed, from the time of Jesus right through to the present day. We endeavour to ensure that this message of Jesus Christ is relevant to new generations. We need to stress again the place of God the Creator, who not only made all things, but keeps them going! We live in part of the country which is amazing in its beauty, colour, complexity and variety. It inspires worship. In a world where people despair and ask 'Why doesn't God do something?', the Christian message is that HE HAS. He expressed his love by entering this world himself. He went to the root of the problem, tackling the selfishness in our own hearts. He died on the Cross, so that we can be reconciled to God. What a message the church has to share! It's a message of freedom & new life. The church's building, even its activities, are but a shell for the core of the life of its people: a shared life, the risen life of Jesus Christ. Rev Gareth J Edwards |
The calling of the Methodist Church is to respond to the Good News of God’s love in Christ and to live out its discipleship in worship and mission.
In worship Methodists give thanks to God who loves us and has set us in this world of possibilities. Methodist worship is characterised by a lively tradition of hymn singing and a passionate regard for preaching the love and justice of the gospel of Jesus.
A priority of Methodists is to tell people about the Good News of Jesus and call them to faith and to Christian Discipleship. Methodists also embrace care for individuals and communities; involvement in education and development for all, in struggling for a just world, being alongside the poor, caring for the earth and getting to know other cultures and faiths.
We invite you to join us.
Methodism in Porlock has a long history. The first Wesleyan preachers from Taunton preached in Porlock from a mounting block in the main street in 1810. Many people joined them, and by 1826 they had formed a Methodist Society.
In 1836, with a membership of 30, it was decided to build a Chapel. A site was leased from the Earl of Lovelace at £1 p.a. for 60 years, after which the building was improved and extended. By 1908 the congregation had outgrown the building and land opposite the Post Office was purchased and a building fund launched.
It was 20 years before the dream was realised as a stream of Methodist families moved to Minehead and then the First World War came, causing a lack of workers and local industry.
However, fund-raising began again in the 1920s and in June 1927 the new chapel was dedicated. The present church was designed by a Mr Tamblyn of Minehead and built by Browns of Porlock at a cost of £4600., using red sandstone with facing of Bath stone.
There have been a number of alterations to the interior over the years - the present organ was acquired in March 1970 and dedicated in June 1970, with Dudley Savage playing. The screen was constructed in 1981 from pews removed from the back of the church, and is moveable to give more room if necessary. The latest major development, dedicated on Easter Sunday 2002, was the removal of the remaining pews, which have been replaced by chairs, and the whole Church carpeted.
We have extensive premises beneath the church, which are used by various people in the village for meetings and activities.
Porlock Methodists have always been known for their involvement in local life which continues to the present day. We pay tribute to all who, past and present, have worked in the name of the Lord to make our church an important part of the local community, and in practical or spiritual ways to witness to the love of our saviour, for in the end a Church is not a building; but those who make up the congregation of God’s people.
Please contact the minister on 01643 703791.
www.porlock.org - Porlock Vale Community Website
www.porlock.co.uk - Website of Porlock & The Vale, run by the Porlock Tourist Association
