Christ Church, Long Load

A small chapel serving Long Load is known to have existed as early as 1418. By 1791, the building had become "ruinous" and was demolished and replaced in 1796 with a new building smaller than its predecessor.^[2] By the middle of the 19th-century, the 1796 chapel had also fallen into a dilapidated state.^[3] A scheme was devised, and an appeal was launched to raise £2,500 for the construction of a new church, a schoolroom and a parsonage. By April 1855, approximately £1,700 had been raised. The schoolroom was erected at a cost of £350 and was granted a license to be used as a place of worship until the new church was completed.^[4] The plans for the new church were drawn up by C. E. Giles of Taunton, with accommodation for 279 persons.^[3]

Construction commenced in 1854 and the church was consecrated by the Bishop of Bath and Wells, the Right Rev. Robert Eden, on 11 September 1856.^[5] The consecration was originally set for 4 September, but had to be postponed when the Bishop's wife fell ill.^[6] The estimated cost of the church was £1,300.^[4] Long Load was made its own ecclesiastical parish in 1867.^[2]

Christ Church closed as a place of worship in 2011.^[7] It was subsequently sold and planning permission was granted in 2014 to convert the building into a three-bedroom residence.^[8] Long Load and Long Sutton formed a new parish in 2017.^[7]

Christ Church is built of Blue Lias stone with dressings in Hamstone. The Blue Lias was gifted by the Earl of Burlington and supplied from his quarries at Long Sutton.^[6] The church was made up of a five-bay nave, two-bay chancel, south porch, north-east vestry and spirelet with bell. A Jacobean pulpit was retained from the older chapel.^[2][1]