CHURCHES.
By the later 12th century Otterhampton had its own rector, (fn. 83) but the parish did
not have full parochial status: the vicar of Stockland in 1377 successfully claimed to bury the
dead of Otterhampton unless they had chosen to
be buried elsewhere. (fn. 84) Otterhampton probably
established its independence soon afterwards.
Following the building of St. Peter's at Combwich c. 1868, those detached parts of Cannington
parish in and around Combwich village were
transferred to Otterhampton for ecclesiastical
purposes only, and the new church became a
chapel of ease to Otterhampton. (fn. 85) The rectory
of Otterhampton with Combwich was united
with Stockland in 1971 and from 1984 formed
part of the united benefice of Cannington,
Otterhampton, Combwich, and Stockland. (fn. 86)
Otterhampton church was closed for regular
services in 1985 and was declared redundant. (fn. 87)
The lords of Otterhampton and Otterhampton
Rumsey manors presented to the rectory alternately. (fn. 88) By the late 15th century the lords of
Otterhampton Rumsey manor had lost their
right although they continued to claim the
advowson until 1548 or later. (fn. 89) The advowson
descended with the main manor until John
Evered (d. 1848) left it to his son the Revd.
Charles Evered (d. 1867) whose widow Emma
sold it to her brother-in-law Robert Guy Evered
(d. 1887). Robert's second son John in 1892 sold
it to his elder brother Andrew (d. 1925) who left
it in trust for his wife Louisa (d. 1928) and his
daughter Edith (d. 1945), wife of the Revd.
Frederick Rostron. The personal representatives
of the trustees retained the right of patronage
until the church was declared redundant. (fn. 90)
The church was valued at £5 in 1291 (fn. 91) and in
1535 at £13 18s. 6d. gross. (fn. 92) The rectory was
said to be worth £70 6s. a year in 1634 (fn. 93) but only
c. £60 in 1668. (fn. 94) In 1802 the living was valued
at £175 a year, (fn. 95) rising to an average of £260
gross in 1829-31, (fn. 96) and to £300 in 1868. (fn. 97) In the
later 12th century some tithes in the parish were
found to belong to Nether Stowey, whose rector
granted them to the chaplain of Otterhampton
for life at rents of 2s. 6d. and a wax candle. (fn. 98) In
1839 the tithes were commuted for an annual
rent charge of £239 14s. (fn. 99)
The glebe lands, valued at £1 2s. in 1535, (fn. 1)
comprised in the early 17th century 22 a. of land,
mainly arable. (fn. 2) The glebe measured 19½ a. in
1839. (fn. 3) By 1924 some glebe had been sold but
7½ a. remained in 1978. (fn. 4) In the early 17th
century the parsonage house appears to have had
a detached kitchen, barn, pigeon house, and
stables. (fn. 5) It was burnt down c. 1623 and rebuilding remained unfinished in 1630; (fn. 6) it had
probably been completed by 1634. (fn. 7) The rectory
house, having been in decay for many years, was
replaced in 1802 by a large L-shaped house with
a symmetrical three-bayed front, paid for by the
rector, John Jeffrey D.D. (fn. 8) By 1839 the house
had been considerably extended. (fn. 9) The Old Rectory preserves its 1802 frontage with a central
door under a triangular pediment. Following the
union with Stockland the rector moved to
Combwich and the rectory house was sold. (fn. 10)
Hugh Willings, rector, was in dispute with the
vicar of Stockland in 1377 (fn. 11) and was accused of
involvement in the concealment of customs in
1386. (fn. 12) William Warre was instituted to the
living in 1519 as an acolyte, and in the same year
was licensed to hold another benefice. (fn. 13) In the
1530s there was a fraternity of St. Peter and St.
Paul in Otterhampton. (fn. 14) In 1554 the rector was
reported for keeping his horses in the churchyard and for not preaching sermons. (fn. 15) Robert
Reason, rector from 1618 and also vicar of
Cannington, was chaplain to the earl of Rutland
in 1629. His curate was accused of neglecting his
duties and another man sometimes took services. (fn. 16) At least one 18th-century rector was a
pluralist, the registers were not kept for 20 years
before 1771, (fn. 17) and John Trevor, rector 1771-94,
was thought to be abroad in 1785. (fn. 18) His successor Dr. John Jeffrey, rector 1794-1861, was said
to be very rich. (fn. 19) He was resident, but also served
Stockland and in 1815 only a morning service
was held at Otterhampton. (fn. 20) In 1827 there were
two Sunday services, but by 1840 only one.
Communion was then celebrated at least three
times a year; (fn. 21) by 1870 there were two Sunday
services and communion 14 times a year. (fn. 22) Charles Anderson, rector 1872-98, was the first
chairman of Bridgwater rural district council. (fn. 23)
After the opening of Combwich church attendances at Otterhampton were reduced and in 1898
there were c. 10 communicants. (fn. 24) Only morning
services were held there in the 1930s and communion was celebrated monthly. (fn. 25) Two Sunday
services were occasionally held later but there
were usually fewer than 10 communicants. (fn. 26)
A church house was recorded in 1755 and 1766
when it was held with the capital messuage, later
Otterhampton Farm. (fn. 27) It was probably the
house which the vestry agreed to demolish in
1841 but which still stood in front of the church
in 1845. (fn. 28)
The church of St. Peter or St. Peter and St.
Paul, so dedicated in the 1530s, (fn. 29) but later
renamed ALL SAINTS, is built of rubble and
comprises a chancel with north vestry, a nave
with south porch, and a west tower. The nave is
probably of 12th-century origin although no
original features survive except perhaps the rear
arch of the south doorway. The south doorway
is 14th-century and the tower is early 15th-century. The chancel roof was in need of repair in
1629 and in 1630 was reported to be in such a
bad state that it endangered those receiving
communion. (fn. 30) In 1804 the roofs and north wall
of the church were taken down and rebuilt and
the tower was repaired. There was a singing
gallery in 1816 and new seating was provided in
1827. (fn. 31) In 1840 the church was undergoing
repair and the chancel was rebuilt using some of
the older materials including the 15th-century
east window. (fn. 32) By 1881 the church was said to
be in a very bad state largely through damage
from damp, the floor being below the level of
the churchyard. (fn. 33) In 1894 a major restoration
included the insertion of new windows in the
north wall to match those in the south, new glass,
pulpit, and seats, the raising of the chancel floor,
and repairs to the screen. (fn. 34) The church contains
a 12th-century font with an early 17th-century
cover, 14th-century niches either side of the
chancel arch, a much repaired late-medieval
west door with fragments of tracery, a 16th-century screen, (fn. 35) 17th-century communion rails,
and the arms of George VI.
There are four bells including one from the
medieval Bristol foundry and two, dated 1617
and 1647, by members of the Purdue family.
They were rehung in the 1920s. (fn. 36) The cup and
cover date probably from the late 17th century. (fn. 37)
The registers begin in 1656 but there are gaps,
notably 1751-71. (fn. 38)
The chapel of ST. PETER at Combwich, from
1988 the parish church, (fn. 39) was built between 1868
and 1870 to a design by C. Knowles for Susan
Jeffrey, widow of Dr. John Jeffrey, rector of
Otterhampton. She also provided an endowment
to pay a curate's stipend. (fn. 40) Services were held
weekly and communion was celebrated monthly
in 1898-9. During the 20th century there were
weekly communions but usually fewer than 10
communicants. (fn. 41) The church comprises a chancel with polygonal apse and south vestry, a nave
with north and south transepts, and a twostoreyed south porch surmounted by an
octagonal belfry with spire. The interior
includes later 19th-century stained glass
and furnishings. There is a peal of five bells.
The marriage registers date from 1944. (fn. 42)