News & Updates

World Leprosy Day always takes place on the last Sunday of January.

This date was chosen by French humanitarian, Raoul Follereau as a tribute to the life of Mahatma Gandhi, who did much work with persons affected by leprosy and died at the end of January in 1948.

It is organised by organisations of people affected by leprosy and leprosy-focused NGOs, including The Leprosy Mission, and is an opportunity to lift up the voices of people affected by leprosy throughout the world.

Find out more at here.

Come into the Minster on Saturday 28 January and learn more about The Leprosy Mission in the Gifts & Books shop.

@ 4pm

Join us for a Benefice service at St John’s, Park Street TA1 4DG to celebrate St John’s Patronal Festival

With the Wellington School Chapel Choir

Tea & Cakes follow the service

12.30pm at St John’s, Park Street, Taunton TA1 4DG

This year’s theme is Ordinary People

A time to reflect and remember – which will include a short talk on local man, Frank Foley, to be given by Tom Mayberry, CEO Somerset Heritage.

Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) is an international day on 27 January to remember the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, alongside the millions of other people killed under Nazi persecution of other groups and during more recent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.

27 January marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp.

The Holocaust threatened the fabric of civilisation, and genocide must still be resisted every day. Our world often feels fragile and vulnerable and we cannot be complacent. Even in the UK, prejudice and the language of hatred must be challenged by us all.

HMD is for everyone. Each year across the UK, thousands of people come together to learn more about the past and take action to create a safer future. We know they learn more, empathise more and do more.

Together we bear witness for those who endured genocide, and honour the survivors and all those whose lives were changed beyond recognition.

If you are looking for somewhere warm to spend some time this winter here is a list of places in Taunton offering a place to be in the warm.

The Minster is a warm space and is open Monday to Friday (9am -3pm), Saturday (9am – 2pm) and on a Sunday is open for our services.

Saturday 5 November

The Minster hosted a Diocesan Confirmation with 34 candidates from 16 parishes presented to Bishop Nigel Stock, Assistant Bishop, Diocese of Bath & Wells.

The service also included the rite of Holy Baptism and Bishop Nigel sprinkled water from the font upon the candidates and through the congregation, using a traditional Rosemary bush .

It was a wonderful celebration of faith and Bishop Nigel spoke of God’s generosity and abundance in sowing seed for every person to receive. At the end of the service the newly confirmed processed through the Minster, led by Bishop Nigel, and with each holding a lighted candle. On receiving these symbols of the Light of Christ, the whole congregation acclaimed “Shine as a light in the world to the glory of God the Father.”

Yes, Christmas is coming up fast and the Church prepares well for it with the preceding season of Advent (Latin adventus, “coming”).

And then to Christmas, where you’ll find here all sorts of tree ornaments and other beautiful items. Look out for some great 2023 calendars, some featuring Taunton and Somerset scenes.

The Gifts & Books shop is ready for both the Advent and Christmas seasons with wide selections of gifts. We have Advent calendars to suit all ages and, happily, our Advent selection features many calendars whereby when you open the calendar doors you’re greeted by a biblical verse—this helps us to keep ‘on message’ with the true meaning of the birth of Christ.

Please do come along and see all that the shop has to offer.

It’s an oasis of retail calm away from the jostle of the High Street and where you’ll find gifts items that can’t be found elsewhere. And remember, every purchase helps support the Minster in its upkeep and mission, because the shop is wonderfully managed by Cheryl and her team of volunteers.

Open Monday to Saturday, 10:00am to 1:00pm.

Gifts & Books