St Peter & All Hallows

A Christian community is believed to have existed at Huntspill since AD 796 when, during the reign of the Saxon King Offa, the Manor and land at Huntspill was given to Glastonbury Abbey. Huntspill is listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Honspil.

There has been a church on this site since 1194. It was rebuilt in the 1400s and restored to its former glory after a fire in 1878. Today, the pillars are still a unique red/orange colour as a result of the fire.

The size and quality of construction of the church is attributed to the wealth of Somerset during the period of prosperity brought about by the wool trade. Huntspill village (now known as West Huntspill) was important then both as a port and a staging point on the shortest route from Bristol to Exeter. The views from the tower, which dominates the landscape, are spectacular: to the east and south east, the Somerset Levels to Glastonbury Tor; to the west, the Parrot Estuary, Bridgwater Bay, Steart Flats Nature Reserve, and the Quantock Hills; to the north west, the coastline at Burnham on Sea, the Bristol Channel and Wales in the distance.

Not only are the views from the tower spectacular but the tower is a well known landmark, being seen by passing traffic on the M5 motorway. The church is built on slightly higher ground originally at the centre of the community. However, after the Somerset tsunami on 30th January 1607, which it is believed to have wiped out the village and led to it being rebuilt to the east of the church. The church is a survivor of this great flood which is believed to have killed 2,000 people. Further flooding occurred in 1703 and 1798.

A major fire in 1878 gutted the church, leaving only stonework still standing. Over the following two years extensive Victorian restoration took place. The stonework survives today, in an unusual red colour as a direct result of the fire. The church was rebuilt and reopened in 1880 with all the roof replaced, new pews and a Jacobean pulpit which originated from Stogursey. The six bells were recast and rehung. The floor now being a fine example of Victorian Minton tiles dating from just after the fire.

There is an extensive ‘open‘ churchyard with war graves, which is rich in wild life including a selection of bats.