Historic Tin Church Refurbished with Community Support Ahead of Christmas

A historic tin church, which had fallen into disrepair, has been refurbished with the assistance of the local community. Edithmead Church, situated in Stoddens Lane near Burnham-on-Sea, is commonly referred to as “The Tin Church” and dates back to 1919. The community collectively raised £11,000 to facilitate repairs to the old building’s roof and to repaint its exterior, a development first reported by Burnham-on-Sea.com. Church treasurer Maureen Phillips remarked: “People love the building because it’s always been there for their whole lives. It’s a familiar thing.” The small church accommodates approximately 40 people. Ms Phillips noted its popularity during the festive season, stating: “At Christmas it gets full to overflowing. We’ve had people queuing out the door.” The building was transformed into a church in 1919, having previously functioned as a school. The vicar of Burnham-on-Sea purchased the structure for £184 after discovering that residents in the village were holding services in an old railway carriage. Presently, three weekly services are conducted at the church. Ms Phillips commented on the sound quality, saying: “The acoustics in here when you’re singing are lovely and warm.” She further added: “It’s all fairly simple, everything we do here is simple.” The church was forced to close for 18 months during the Covid-19 lockdown. It subsequently deteriorated, leading the church to solicit support from the community. Ms Phillips shared: “Everyone who gave us money told us a story about it, telling us their parents had come here or they had their wedding here.” A local builder completed the roof repairs and repainted the building. “We hope it lasts for another 100 years,” Ms Phillips concluded.