THE METHODIST CHURCH SOMERSET MISSION

West Street Church, Somerton

In 1932 Methodist Union brought together the Wesleyan Mid-Somerset Mission, the Glastonbury Primitive Methodist Circuit and the Somerton United Methodist Church.

This new unit was named THE SOMERSET MISSION and from then onwards until 1971 an ordained minister was stationed at Somerton.

1932    Rev. Andrew Bates B.A.            Deceased

1935    Rev, Francis E. Morton B.A.             “

1940    Rev. Percival Davies                        “

1945    Rev. Wilfrid J. Bowden                    “

1950    Rev. Eric Bower                              “

1953    Rev. Alan Freeman, 'Hillcrest', St Saviour Hill, Jersey. C. 1. JE2 7LG

1957    Rev. Morgan (for one day only 1)

Rev. Eric Marley for six months

1958    Rev. Michael Appleyard (for 3 months prior to going overseas)

Rev. Derek Wheelhouse (for 3 months following overseas duty)

1958    Rev. Richard Heafield, 104 Lake Road, Venvood, Wimborne, Dorset. BH21 6BY

1963    Rev. Gregory Carter, Yew Tree Cottage, 37 High Street, Roade. Northampton. NN7 2NW

1966    Rev. Arthur Burch, 'The Beeches', 9 Lower East Coker Road, Yeovil. BA20 2LH – Deceased

**********************************

1971    Rev. Eric Jones, B.D. (Street)

33 Manor Road, Hoylake, Wirral, Merseyside. L47 3DE

1978    Rev. Irving Penberthy (Street)

The Manse, Penygarreg Rise, Pant, Shropshire. SY10 7HY

1982    Rev. Arthur Casley (Castle Cary)

'Kar-Anda', Trefusis Terrace, Redruth, Cornwall. TR15 2HA

1985    Rev. Raymond Sargent (Castle Cary)

21 Ashburton Road, Brimley, Bovey Tracey, TQ13 9BZ

1989    Rev. William A. Holden, M.A., B.D. (for 1 year only)

5 Willcox Close, Glastonbury. BA6 9AP

1990    Rev. John W. Young, B.A. (Castle Cary)

2 Parsonage Crescent, Ansford, Castle Cary. BA7 XP

1993    Rev. Elizabeth Mayes, 29 Downside, Street, BA 16 ODL

1993    Mr David Sawyer*. 'Crimbles', Housman Road, Street,

BA 16 OSD

*Appointed Lay Pastor for Somerton

1999    Rev. Robert Channon

1999    Mrs Pam White (Lay Pastoral Worker)

2003    Rev. Peter Bennett

2008    Rev. Ken Chalmers

2145

1995

1845
             1810
            

The first few pages of this booklet covering the years 1814-1845 were written by the Rev. Percival Davies, Minister at Somerton from 1940-45, to mark the Centenary of the present former Wesleyan Church in Somerton, but also traces the origin and progress of the movement from its beginnings in the town. The material is scanty, since Methodists were not all as careful to record their works as Wesley himself was.

The text has been re-written to mark the 150th Anniversary by Alison Chant and updated by Albert Lukehurst.

Published by Valerie and Barry King, who have also updated in 2011.

And so to 2011

        It’s hard to take in that 16 years have passed since the 150^th celebrations.  We ended 2010 with some of the coldest days on record.  Snow disrupted everyday life and commerce, but did not isolate Somerton.  Services of Worship continued, and the newly installed boilers did their job.  

The average congregation of 20/25 gets older, although for a few years we have been blessed with some younger people and their children.  Despite the years the Church fellowship remains active in organising charitable path sales, garden party, bazaar, summer cream teas, a bi-annual flower festival.

Increasingly joint services are taking place with the Somerton United Reform Church across the road from us.  A joint study* of the controversial book “The Shack” was led by both Ministers (Rev. Tim Richards and Rev. Ken Chalmers) during 2010.  Continuing organisations are Women’s Fellowship, Boys’ Brigade and Prayer Circle.  Bible Study * is arranged on an ad-hoc basis and our involvement with the Somerton Churches Together continues to grow and flourish.

Whilst there has been the closure of some groups we have been encouraged with the formation of others.

Church Holiday 1999

        The first holiday in 1999 has been followed up with several more since that time.  “The Park” a Christian hotel in Torquay, has been the venue for a group from Somerton, accompanied on occasions by others from around the town and from Street Methodist Church.  

Rainbow Rascals

In Sept 2000 Rainbow Rascals was born.  Somewhere for Mums, Expectant Mums, Dads, and carers with babies and young children to meet. Adults chat and drink coffee, children play.      

Monthly – Church is open for Prayer

        Simply open for prayer from 10 – 11am on the first Tuesday of every month.  An A board advertises the fact for anyone to come in, and sit a while. Five minutes or an hour. 

Net Buddies

          Wouldn’t the original members of Somerton Methodist be surprised at this latest outreach from the Church.  Pam and Ivor Dixon retired and one of their retirement projects was Net Buddies.  Broadband was installed by the Church and anyone wishing to know more about the Internet and Computers were invited to join free teaching sessions.  At this time the concept has expanded to three more locations including Keinton Mandeville Methodist Church.    

Our long distance walks

cannot be left out. The reason was to raise sponsored monies for charities close to our heart, but we did enjoy those walks.   

The Two Moors Walk 1996

          Badly needed Playground equipment for young children in Somerton sparked off the first walk.  Ivybridge to Lynton, taking in Dartmoor and Exmoor.  

 The Cornish Coastal Walk (South) 1997

          Newquay to Falmouth was the next walk.  The Bristol Oncology Centre benefited by over £3000 in acknowledgement of the treatment given to several members of the Church. Five members were diagnosed with the disease at the same time.

The Cornish Coastal Walk (North) 1998

        Bude to Minehead Walking holiday 27^th June – 3^rd July.  People had been so very generous in sponsoring previous walks, so this year it was decided to just have a walking holiday.  A great time of fellowship despite the heavy rain that followed us.

Contact

        We believe that it is 37 years since “Contact” first appeared.  Contact the monthly Newsletter of Somerton Methodist Church, whose name was a cause for lengthy debate at the time, but, eventually the name suggested by John Chant was chosen.  Not so many hard copies are needed now, but by email Contact goes to past members and Ministers around the world.  

Some Special Occasions

27th June 2010 @ Bognor Regis - Ordination of Rev. Ken Chalmers 

A special guest for a Boys Brigade fund raising event - The Archbishop of  Canterbury
St. Margarets Somerset Hospice 

1998 New Extension to the Church

The last day the outside toilets could be used

On January 3^rd 1998 the Chairman of the District 

REV. IAN T. WHITE dedicated the newly built annex to the Church.

Every winter, the outside toilets froze, bursting pipes.  As the thaw came so did the clean up and pipe repairs.  Enough was enough, so discussions started to build new toilets onto the back of the premises, “but while we are doing that, let’s make some storage spaces as well”. “but while we are doing that lets use all the land and make a new room as well” there was a lot more involved than just those two comments, but that was the gist of it.

Whatever God has in store for the Methodist people of Somerton, this is our story so far. . . . . . . . . . .