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Sacred Heart
Minehead
These are our Mass Times:
Saturday 5.00pm, Sundays 11.15am
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 10.00am. Except 1st Wednesday of the month which is at 12noon.
Holy Days 10.00am, 7.00pm
Father Anselm Redman, Parochial Administrator
Email: anselm.redman@cliftondiocese.com
Deacon: Vincent Woods
Email: vincent.woods@cliftondiocese.com
Parish Administrator: Loraine Taylor: Thursdays & Fridays 9am-1.30pm
Email: minehead.sacredheart@cliftondiocese.com
Minehead Safeguarding Representative: Anne O'Connor
Email: PSR.minehead.sacredheart@cliftondiocese.com
For Church Hall bookings please call contact Amanda Scarborough:
Email: hallatsh.minehead@cliftondiocese.com
Live Mass:
You can watch Live Masses from Sacred Heart below:
Live Mass:
Watch live Masses and catch-up on previous Masses from Sacred Heart here: Minehead, Sacred Heart Church
Find us:
Sacred Heart
8 Townsend Road
Minehead
TA24 5RG
Minehead is a coastal town and civil parish in Somerset, England. It lies on the south bank of the Bristol Channel, 21 miles (34 km) north-west of the county town of Taunton, 12 miles (19 km) from the border with the county of Devon and in proximity of the Exmoor National Park. The parish of Minehead has a population of approximately 11,981 making it the most populous town in the West Somerset local government district,[1] which in turn, is the worst area in the country for social mobility.[2] This figure includes Alcombe and Woodcombe, suburban villages which have been subsumed into Minehead.
Minehead Pastoral Council
Canon 511 (and later 536) of Code of Canon Law states the establishment of a Parish Council is for the fostering of pastoral activity in the parish. The basic task of such a council is to serve, at institutional level, the orderly collaboration of the faithful in the development of pastoral activity which is proper to priests. The pastoral council is thus a consultative organ in which the faithful, expressing their baptismal responsibility, can assist the parish priest, who presides at the council, by offering their advice on pastoral matters.
The Pastoral Councils meet twice a year or more often if required.
Chair: To be confirmed
Vice Chair: Simon Rous: Tel: 07977 471330
Secretary: Deacon Vincent Woods
Janet Venn: Tel: 01278 741355
Solveiga Knight: Tel: 01643 706183
Fred Keen: Tel: 01643 862331
Lindy Head: Tel: 01398 351209
Nora Maw: Tel: 01643 862358
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Methodist Church
Watchet
Mass Times:
Friday 9.45am
Father Anselm Redman, Parochial Administrator
Email: anselm.redman@cliftondiocese.com
Watchet Methodist Church
Harbour Road
Watchet
TA23 0AQ
Premises not owned or maintained by by Clifton Diocese
Watchet is a harbour town, civil parish and electoral ward in the English county of Somerset, with a population of 3,785.[1] It is situated 15 miles (24 km) west of Bridgwater, 15 miles (24 km) north-west of Taunton, and 9 miles (14 km) east of Minehead. The town lies at the mouth of the Washford River on Bridgwater Bay, part of the Bristol Channel, and on the edge of Exmoor National Park.
The Catholic congregation of Watchet are guests of the Methodist community and share their chapel in Harbour Road. A Mass is said every Friday morning at 9.45am. Please check the Bulletin for any alterations.
A short history of the Catholic Church in Minehead
| Pre 1888 | Catholics in Minehead only heard Mass in frequently possibly only once a year. Their other option was to travel to Taunton. |
| 1888 | One of those who travelled to Taunton was Mrs Marshall who arranged for Father Matthew Gurrin OP to come to Minehead to complete his recuperation from illness. Father Matthew Gurrin stayed with Mr and Mrs Icledon friends of Mrs Marshall. Father Gurrin ministered to Catholics in Minehead for a time before being recalled by his order. |
| 1890 to 1891 | After Father Gurrin’s recall Minehead was without a Catholic priest until the Abbess of the Franciscan Convent and Mrs Icledon lobbied Bishop Clifford for a permanent mission in Minehead. In 1890 or 1891 Bishop Clifford gave Mother Abbess permission to do all she could to establish a mission in Minehead. |
| 1891 | Mother Abbess and Mrs Icledon managed to rent a small cottage with a large thatched barn in Selbourne Place Minehead. The barn was opened as a Chapel in 1891 by Bishop Clifford. Father J Davis was the parish priest. |
| 1895 | In January 1895 Father J O’Shaughnessey was appointed parish priest having been assistant priest at Taunton. He almost immediately began collecting money to build a permanent church for the parish. Accounting records exist from July 1895. |
| July 1895 | The West Somerset Free Press reported “A fund raising appeal was launched to build the new Roman Catholic Church in Minehead. For five years Mass has been held in a thatched property which was outdated and inadequate” |
| Oct 1895 | Land purchased for new church and presbytery from the Luttrell Estate totalling one acre for £450 ( approximately worth £53,100 in 2016) |
| March 1896 | Plans submitted to Minehead UDC by architect Canon Scoles. These are simplified outlines of what was proposed. Approval given 23rd March 1896 |
| April 1896 | 9th April 1896 the foundation stone was laid at a ceremony carried out by the then Bishop of Clifton, the Right Rev. W R Brownlow. So far no trace has been found of the foundation stone. |
| April 1896 | According to a report in The Tablet Father J O’Shaughnessey, having been on the point of leaving Minehead for Clifton resigned in favour of Father Richard Chichester, who had been secretary to Bishop Brownlow. It would appear that his appointment started about 25th April and the first entry in his hand-writing in the account book is for 29th April 1896. |
| April to September 1896 | Building work on the church was carried out by Mr W Harrison a Minehead builder. The interior decoration of the ceiling in the Sanctuary was the work Arthur Lincoln Cox a parishioner, who was possibly a member of the Cox family that owned the West Somerset Free Press. The cost of building the church was £737 which does not include fitting out etc. |
| September 1896 | On 15th September a service was held to open the church for divine worship. The Offertory at the opening was £31 10s 0d (approximately equivalent to £3750 in 2016). A report of the opening was published in The Tablet dated 26th September 1896. |
| January 1898 | At this time Father Chichester started to raise funds for the installation of a permanent High Altar and Reredos. The total sum raised was £157 and the cost was £154 18s 6d. Of the money raised £50 was given by Lady van Straubenzee. |
| May to August 1900 | Plans were made to add an aisle to the church. The plans were submitted to Minehead UDC and were approved on 15th May 1900. The aisle was completed by late July or early August. The aisle was formally opened on 2nd September 1900. |
| November 1900 | 27th November Lady van Straubenzee died. In her will she left £1,200 to Bishop Brownlow for the Catholic Mission in Minehead. She also arranged for the residue of her estate, after other bequests, to be held in trust for the parish |
| 1901 | The organ was installed which was built by Messrs Minns of Taunton. |
| 1901 to 1907 | Much if not all of the stained glass was installed. |
| February 1907 | Mrs Webber-Incledon, benefactor of the church, died. She left £1,000, in her will, to the Bishop of Clifton for the Mission in Minehead |
| February 1914 | Father Richard Chichester died on the 7th. After a Requiem Mass at Minehead his body was taken to Calverleigh in Devon for interment in his family’s plot. |
| February 1914 | Mgr J Lyons became parish priest on the 19th. He was priest in Minehead until November 1916. |
| August 1914 | World War I started. Shortly after this a number of Belgian refugees where found accommodation in Minehead and they were joined by a Belgian priest, Abbe Dupurer, in October 1914. |
| November 1916 | Father J J Noonan moved to Minehead from Clifton. |
| March 1919 | Abbe Dupurer gives a moving address thanking the people of Minehead and around for their kindness to the Belgian refugees during the war. He then returned to Belgium. |
A short history of the Catholic Church in Watchet
Land was acquired in Harbour Road and the Church, which included the first non -denominational Day School, was opened on Easter Tuesday, 2nd April 1872.
The building has been described as follows:
Former Wesleyan Chapel built in 1871. Early English style, random coursed red sandstone with hamstone ashlar dressings to windows, porch and buttresses.
High coped gable, pitched slate roof with finials, 1½ storeys. East front divided into three bays by full height angle buttresses, centre bay breaks slightly forward. Two-light lancet windows with tracery and hood moulds to side bays. One large 5-light central window with geometrical tracery. Gabled porch approached up flight of stone steps. Cusped arched opening. Side elevations divided into four bays, 2 stage buttresses, four 2-light windows with geometrical tracery. Projecting section at west end with hipped slate roof.
Inside the Church it is very beautiful with dark shining wood and red carpet. Of much interest is the Baptismal bowl which was carved from a large lump of Watchet alabaster composing variegated tints, and which was presented to the Church in 1931 by Mr J J Moon of Battleton, Dulverton. It rests on four short and slightly carved legs linking it with a square plinth. The inscription reads “Watchet Wesleyan Church 1931 – Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not”.
The worship area in the Church was partitioned in 1999 in order to create an attractive entrance foyer, and in 2002 a lift was installed to make the Church accessible to those who are less able.