CARHAMPTON CHURCHES
Church of England: Diocese of Bath and Wells
Church of St John the Baptist
Church of St John the Baptist
This church is the only one in the Exmoor area to be mentioned in the Domesday Book. This is unusual because only taxable items were mentioned in the book and churches were not generally taxable. There is nothing of the church remaining from that time. One can only guess that it may have been dedicated to St Carantock, who had strong associations with the village. It had a Norman font but that is now at the chapel at Rodhuish. Although its architecture is perpendicular in style, all old stonework was replaced by restoration in 1863. The tower was rebuilt and redesigned in 1870. Until then It had had a low tower with a tiled top, walls dating back to 1270 and an Early English lancet window.
All that is older than Victorian now is an 18th century wooden pulpit and a magnificent wooden screen dating fom around 1500. This is now the chief interest of the church. The screen is very long, spanning the south ailse and separating the nave from chancel. It is contemporary with other impressive screens at Minehead and Dunster. During the Victorian restoration it was repainted in its original colours of green, blue, red and gold, making it an unusual and striking feature.
Churchyard cross
Lych gate
Medieval painted screen
Services: 9.30 am on the first Sunday: All-age Service,
· 9.30 am on the next three Sundays: Holy Communion
· 6.00 pm every third Sunday: Evening Service
On any fifth Sunday there is a Benefice Service and there are morning prayers every Friday. Coffee, tea and biscuits are offered after the Sunday morning services.
Methodist Church: Plymouth and Exeter District/ West Somerset Circuit
Methodist church
Methodists have held regular services at Carhampton since1796, the first in West Somerset. The original chapel , was a converted cottage and was returned to a cottage in 1818. It is now the village Post Office. A new, purpose built chapel was made in 1839. Unusually, it was made of cob with whitewshed walls. Today it is part of a group of buildings, including a brick built schoolroom and cottage. Inside is a single marble monument, to James Bryant, a local benefactor of the church, who died in 1864.