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St Joseph's Church
Ilminster
Somerset
TA19 9BQ
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Who we are
Our Mission
We, the Roman Catholic Parish of The English Martyrs. Three Places of Worship, One Family Parish. Our aim to Worship God, Love each other, Serve the community and Pray for the Power of the Holy Spirit to transform lives In the name of Jesus Christ.
We, the Roman Catholic Parish of The English Martyrs. Three Places of Worship, One Family Parish. Our aim to Worship God, Love each other, Serve the community and Pray for the Power of the Holy Spirit to transform lives In the name of Jesus Christ.
Location of worship / Church Address
Church Pastor
Canon John Cunningham
Parish Priest
2 East Street
Chard,
Somerset
TA20 1EP
United Kingdom
Phone: 01460 62197
Download Parish Priest Canon John Cunningham vCard
Quote of the Day
Ephesians 6:10
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Denomination
Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic churches in Ilminster, Somerset, United Kingdom
Roman Catholic churches in Somerset, United Kingdom
Roman Catholic churches in United Kingdom
All churches in Ilminster, Somerset
Affiliations:
Website:
Social Media
St Joseph's Church Ilminster on YouTube
Leadership
Leader Name:
Canon John Cunningham
Leader Position:
Parish Priest
Formal Title:
Leader Address:
2 East Street
Chard
Somerset
TA20 1EP
Chard
Somerset
TA20 1EP
Tel:
Fax:
Leader Email:
Leader Bio:
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Canon John Cunningham on Social Media:
St Joseph's Church Leadership Photos
Administration
Admin Name:
Mrs Maggie Weedon
Admin Position:
Office Administrator
Admin Address:
Telephone:
Fax:
Admin Email:
Mailing Address
Driving Directions to St Joseph's Church
Travel/Directions Tips
Parking
St Joseph's Church Ilminster Mass Times
Sunday Mass Times
Saturday Vigil Mass 5.30pm - Ilminster
on Saturday 7th and 14th of October Mass will be at 5pm because of the Carnival
Sunday 8.45am - Crewkerne
Sunday Holy Mass 11.00am - Chard
Holy Communion for those unable to attend Mass in Person. If you are unable to Mass in person because you are housebound/Illness it may be possible for you to receive Holy Communion in your own home. Please contact Our Parish Administrator, Maggie, Parish Office: 07483 120603. If you get the answer phone please leave a brief message stating that you would like to receive Holy Communion.
Mass Times last updated on the 26th of September, 2023
Saturday Vigil Mass 5.30pm - Ilminster
on Saturday 7th and 14th of October Mass will be at 5pm because of the Carnival
Sunday 8.45am - Crewkerne
Sunday Holy Mass 11.00am - Chard
Holy Communion for those unable to attend Mass in Person. If you are unable to Mass in person because you are housebound/Illness it may be possible for you to receive Holy Communion in your own home. Please contact Our Parish Administrator, Maggie, Parish Office: 07483 120603. If you get the answer phone please leave a brief message stating that you would like to receive Holy Communion.
Mass Times last updated on the 26th of September, 2023
Worship Languages
Dress code:
Children and Youth Activities
Under 12s:
Under 18s:
Local outreach & community activities:
Other activities & ministries
Special Needs/Accessibility:
Prayers and hymns:
Main Bible:
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Other information:
Average Adult Congregation:
Average Youth Congregation:
Additional Info:
St Joseph's Church Photo Gallery
St Joseph's Church History
Parish History
The foundation stone for he present Church of the English Martyrs was laid by Canon Lee on 24th September 1925. The completed church was opened and solemnly blessed, less than a year later by Bishop Burton on the Feast of St Alban, the first of all the English Martyrs, 22 June 1926. From that date Chard became a Parish in it’s own right, having been until then a part of the Taunton Parish of |st George. A high Mass was celebrated on that occassion bt Canon Cashman, with the (later to become) Rt Rev Mgr ProvostIles as Deacon and Canon McEnery as sub-Deacon. ProvostIles later preached at the opening of St Joeseph’s Ilminster (22 April 1953), which along with St Peter’s in Crewkerne (Opened 1935), is a daughter church of the Chard parish. The Congregation os St Peter’s Crewkerne moved to \methodist Church in Crewkerne in 2006.
The Church itself was built by WJ Harris, Furnham Road Chard, in the design of Sir Frank Wills of Bristol . It is a Victorian Gothic in style, and built of local flint stone with freestone dressing. The structure is spanned by Oregon pine beams. The present nave and Choir loft are original to that design. Together with the Presbytery, built at the same time, it Cost £4,537 (£352,898.48 in todays Money 2023) of which only £919 (£71,481.97) was left to the parish as a debt, the rest being covered by a single substantial donation
Over the main door of the church is a carved statue of the Blessed Richard Whiting, the last Abbot of Glastonbury who with two of his monks, was hanged for his faith in the sixteenth century. He is one of the English Martyrs to whom the Church is dedicated.
The original sanctuary had an altar of carved oak with the tabernacle, above which was an arched window matching that behind the choir loft. In 1966, a new altar of Portland stone was installed for Mass to be said facing the people. At that time, the tabernacle was moved to the right of the sanctuary, where the original confessional had been. The Canopy over the altar was made of ash and afrormosia with brass ribs and corners. The sanctuary furniture (lecterns,sedilia and acolytes’ stools) as well the 1966 altar rail was made of oak.
The remodeling of the church for the post Vatican II rite was undertaken, at a cost of £1,473 (£35,108.15 in today’s money 2023), by C Turner and Son, Chard to the design of Peter Ware, Dowy square, Bristol. The church was then consecrated on 27th September 1966 by the then Bishop of Clifton, the Rt Rev Joseph Rudderham.
One requirement before a church building can be consecrated is usually that its building debt is cleared, so the debt must have been met very promptly. The carved crosses on the plaques on the wall, and the candle holders by them are a reminder of that day of consecration which is remembered annually by the Special Mass on that day. The east window depicts the Adoration, commemorating the diamond anniversary in 2004 of Canon James O’Brien.
The present Church grounds also contain a church hall opened in 1993 at a cost including a debt to the Diocese of Clifton of £15,00 (£357,516.85 in todays money 2023). The Hal itself is composed of two classrooms brought from Langport. It stands on the site of the old tin hut Church of the English Martyrs which was another relocated building from St Joseph’s Fishponds.
The foundation stone for he present Church of the English Martyrs was laid by Canon Lee on 24th September 1925. The completed church was opened and solemnly blessed, less than a year later by Bishop Burton on the Feast of St Alban, the first of all the English Martyrs, 22 June 1926. From that date Chard became a Parish in it’s own right, having been until then a part of the Taunton Parish of |st George. A high Mass was celebrated on that occassion bt Canon Cashman, with the (later to become) Rt Rev Mgr ProvostIles as Deacon and Canon McEnery as sub-Deacon. ProvostIles later preached at the opening of St Joeseph’s Ilminster (22 April 1953), which along with St Peter’s in Crewkerne (Opened 1935), is a daughter church of the Chard parish. The Congregation os St Peter’s Crewkerne moved to \methodist Church in Crewkerne in 2006.
The Church itself was built by WJ Harris, Furnham Road Chard, in the design of Sir Frank Wills of Bristol . It is a Victorian Gothic in style, and built of local flint stone with freestone dressing. The structure is spanned by Oregon pine beams. The present nave and Choir loft are original to that design. Together with the Presbytery, built at the same time, it Cost £4,537 (£352,898.48 in todays Money 2023) of which only £919 (£71,481.97) was left to the parish as a debt, the rest being covered by a single substantial donation
Over the main door of the church is a carved statue of the Blessed Richard Whiting, the last Abbot of Glastonbury who with two of his monks, was hanged for his faith in the sixteenth century. He is one of the English Martyrs to whom the Church is dedicated.
The original sanctuary had an altar of carved oak with the tabernacle, above which was an arched window matching that behind the choir loft. In 1966, a new altar of Portland stone was installed for Mass to be said facing the people. At that time, the tabernacle was moved to the right of the sanctuary, where the original confessional had been. The Canopy over the altar was made of ash and afrormosia with brass ribs and corners. The sanctuary furniture (lecterns,sedilia and acolytes’ stools) as well the 1966 altar rail was made of oak.
The remodeling of the church for the post Vatican II rite was undertaken, at a cost of £1,473 (£35,108.15 in today’s money 2023), by C Turner and Son, Chard to the design of Peter Ware, Dowy square, Bristol. The church was then consecrated on 27th September 1966 by the then Bishop of Clifton, the Rt Rev Joseph Rudderham.
One requirement before a church building can be consecrated is usually that its building debt is cleared, so the debt must have been met very promptly. The carved crosses on the plaques on the wall, and the candle holders by them are a reminder of that day of consecration which is remembered annually by the Special Mass on that day. The east window depicts the Adoration, commemorating the diamond anniversary in 2004 of Canon James O’Brien.
The present Church grounds also contain a church hall opened in 1993 at a cost including a debt to the Diocese of Clifton of £15,00 (£357,516.85 in todays money 2023). The Hal itself is composed of two classrooms brought from Langport. It stands on the site of the old tin hut Church of the English Martyrs which was another relocated building from St Joseph’s Fishponds.
St Joseph's Church Historical Photos
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