Nonconformity in Carhampton, Rodhuish and Withycombe

Carhampton and Withycombe seem to have had a reputation for recusancy in the late 16th century and the Poyntz family of Lower Marsh were Roman Catholics and were the Southcotts, non-resident patrons of Withycombe church. Withycombe suffered from absentee rectors, which may have affected church attendance. There is little evidence of protestant dissent before the 19th century although a shoemaker’s house was licensed for Independent worship in 1787 but the cause was probably short-lived and Methodism was slow to establish. There was some ill feeling between church and chapel. The Withycombe school headmistress in 1885 said of a family that as Dissenters ‘perhaps they do not know how to behave’.