Our Church
 

St John the Evangelist Church was designed and built by George Gilbert Scott to the order of the Revd Frederick Smith, rector of St Mary Magdalene Church, in 1863 to minister to the poorer areas of Taunton. It was the first Anglican Church in the town to provide all of its pews without rent so that the congregation could sit without distinction of class or income. As an inclusive church we hope to maintain that welcome to all that Revd Smith set out from the beginning of our ministry.

We will continue to call the church and ourselves to repentance and reform if we discriminate against people on grounds of disability, economic power, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, learning disability, mental health, neurodiversity, or sexuality.

We believe in a Church which welcomes and serves all people in the name of Jesus Christ; which is scripturally faithful; which seeks to proclaim the Gospel afresh for each generation; and which, in the power of the Holy Spirit, allows all people to experience the eternal love of God in Jesus Christ.

We worship regularly through the weekly and mid-weekly Eucharists. Situated as we are between the Crown and Magistrates' courts, we provide support to the court chaplaincy. We maintain our links with the Temple Methodist church and United Reformed Church. Through the summer our Friday lunchtime concerts with their retiring collections support local and national charities.