About The Church

The Founding of the Church

There has been a Parish Church in Highbridge since 1859.

By 1855 Highbridge was fast becoming a commercial centre for Mid-Somerset. Its trade and population was increasing but there was no church. The town was too far from Burnham for that church to be of much help to the growing community.

It is said that Mary Ann Ruscombe Poole once travelled through the town and noting the absence of the church wanted to put that right. As a result she gave money to build a church and parsonage. Negotiations began with the Dean and Chapter of Wells Cathedral, patrons of the Parish of Burnham to carve out a new ecclesiastical district, later to become a parish in its own right.

The foundation stone was laid on 29 October 1856 by the Foundress herself and the Bishop of Bath & Wells, Lord Aukland, consecrated the ground. A large gathering of clergy and laity attended, and afterwards many took part in a public luncheon in thge Railway Hotel.

In 2009 we celebrated 150 years of St John's Church and its contribution to the Highbridge community.

See the section on Building History for details of the church itself.