Minster News

You are invited to remember your loved ones with flowers at the Minster for Easter.

We ask for a donation of £3.50 towards the cost. Please put the money in an envelope, clearly marked with the name of the person to be remembered, and hand it in to the Benefice office or to a churchwarden.

At Easter we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. During the long period of Lent preceding this we observe a time of reflection and fasting and the church is bare of flowers, to reflect the solemnity of the season. This makes the contrast to Easter itself – when flowers are used in abundance to express the joy and triumph of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead with the assurance of life eternal—all the more striking.

Several flowers are traditionally associated with Easter, having acquired symbolic meaning over the years. Lilies, with their large white trumpet-shaped blooms and lovely fragrance, are the most well-known flower used at Easter. There are many meanings associated with this flower. The white hue represents Jesus’s purity, and the shape of the trumpet recalls the trumpet of the angel Gabriel. Also, the flower grows from a bulb buried in the ground, which is symbolic of Christ’s resurrection.

Monday 26 February ~ Friday 8 March

Souls of Our Shoes – a Journey into and out of Domestic Abuse

This powerful exhibition consists of sixty pairs of shoes, each with a quote from a victim of domestic violence.

It is organised by the Diocese of Bath and Wells Mothers’ Union and is coming to the Minster with viewing during normal opening times.

Context

On average two women every week are killed by a partner or ex-partner in England and Wales. The ‘Souls of our Shoes – A journey into and out of Domestic Abuse’, aims to raise awareness of domestic abuse and highlight the impact it has on families.

The exhibition has been designed and organised by the Mothers’ Union. It is being used in a variety of diocesan and parish contexts to draw attention to the issue of domestic violence. The display features shoes of all different styles, sizes, and colour. Each contains a comment from those who have walked away from abuse and those who have journeyed with them.

Madeline Hellier, Diocesan President of the Mothers’ Union in Bath and Wells says, “The exhibition is designed to draw attention to the fact that domestic violence is going on. Most people think it’s not going on in their street, with people they work with, or believe it can’t possibly happen to people they know, but the collection of shoes is designed to make people become more aware. To recognise it can happen to anyone, anywhere. It has some really powerful messages which will make people stop and think, so that somehow, together, we can help break the cycle of abuse.”

The exhibition was created by the Mothers’ Union in Scotland. It is an extension of the Union’s initiatives to highlight abuse, and the practical and prayerful support that is offered to families. It is hoped the exhibition can “provide a reminder that with timely help, many can escape from their abusive situations, rebuild their confidence and live in safety”.

31 March 2023

Alleluia, Christ is Risen. He is risen indeed, Alleluia!

You are warmly invited to join us at Taunton Minster to celebrate the great Feast of Easter ~ The Day of Resurrection!

Please see the poster for our four service times on Easter Day.

The 6.00am service begins outside at the foot of the Minster tower. We will be warmed and illuminated by the flames of the Easter fire. (Sunrise is at 6.49am, so we may just see a crack of light in the sky at 6.00am!) After the service bacon rolls, tea & coffee will be served (free!).

The day of resurrection! Earth, tell it out abroad;
the passover of gladness, the passover of God.
From death to life eternal, from earth unto the sky,
our Christ hath brought us over, with hymns of victory.

Services for Holy Week are shown here.

Holy Week is the most sacred week in the Christian year. It begins with the commemoration of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, marks the betrayal of Jesus on Wednesday, and climaxes with the commemoration of the Last Supper (Holy Communion) on Maundy Thursday and the Passion of Jesus on Good Friday. Jesus rested in death from the ninth hour (3.00pm) on Good Friday until just before dawn on Sunday morning, the day of his resurrection from death, commonly known as Easter Sunday—The Day of Resurrection!

Thursday 25 January 2024

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

This commemoration is organised by a small collection of community representatives and Somerset Council.

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.

On Friday morning the Reverend Tobie Osmond, Taunton Minster’s Vicar, was on BBC Radio Somerset’s Simon Parkin show talking about Epiphany.

Click here to hear what he had to say.

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.

Pupil chaplains from four primary schools across Somerset met for their annual pilgrimage at Taunton Minister on 15 November. Pupil chaplains usually come from year 5, they volunteer for the role, and are appointed, trained and commissioned.

The chaplains help lead prayer and worship, offer pastoral care to their fellow pupils, look out into the community and help, for instance, with food banks and dementia cafés. As a group they will meet regularly with their school chaplains to learn more about the Christian faith. The annual Pupil Chaplaincy Retreat gives the Pupil Chaplains the opportunity to celebrate and pray, to learn more about their role and to learn from each other.