A Church at the Heart of Fishtown
For more than 200 years, All Saints Church has stood above Brixham Harbour as a place of faith, community and resilience.
Built to serve the fishermen and families of Lower Brixham, All Saints remains part of the story of Fishtown today.
Now we are working to build a new future for this much-loved church, creating a welcoming space for community, conversation, creativity and faith for a new generation.
Help Secure the Future of All Saints
Like many historic community churches, All Saints faces significant financial challenges.
Without increased support, fundraising and community engagement, the future of the church is at risk.
We believe All Saints still has an important role to play in the life of Lower Brixham - not only as a place of worship, but as a centre for community, heritage, music, reflection and belonging.
Our goal is to raise £10,000 by Christmas 2026 to help secure the next chapter of All Saints and support new outreach, events and community activity.
Every donation, fundraiser, volunteer hour and shared conversation helps make a difference.
Built for the People of Lower Brixham
Today, the church remains an important symbol of community, faith and continuity above the harbour.
Originally built in c.1819 as a chapel-of-ease for fishermen and their families, All Saints has long been woven into the identity of Lower Brixham.
The church has watched over generations of harbour life, from fishing families and RNLI volunteers to visitors and residents drawn to Brixham’s unique coastal character.
Henry Francis Lyte, 1793-1847, was minister at All Saints Lower Brixham when he wrote famous hymns including Abide with Me and Praise my Soul the King of Heaven.
Its carillon bells ring daily across the town, continuing traditions that have connected people to this place for generations.
Today, the church remains an important symbol of community, faith and continuity above the harbour.
Building a New Chapter for All Saints
Alongside worship and prayer, we are working to create a more open, welcoming and active community space for modern Brixham.
Our vision includes:
- events and social evenings
- creative and music events
- support for children and young people
- opportunities for reflection and conversation
- partnerships with local organisations
- stronger connections with the fishing and wider coastal community
- welcoming visitors and new residents
- community fundraising and volunteering
We want All Saints to remain a living, active part of Lower Brixham for generations to come.
A Place to Belong
Modern life can feel increasingly disconnected.
We believe churches can still offer something deeply valuable — spaces where people feel welcomed, known and part of something bigger than themselves.
Whether you are exploring faith, searching for community or simply looking for somewhere peaceful to pause, you are welcome at All Saints.
Community Life at All Saints
The town of Brixham is “divided” into two communities colloquially known as “Cowtown” and “Fishtown”. All Saints’ tends to support and be supported by Fishtown, the sea-fishing industry and tourism. Sea-related organisations, principally the RNLI and the Fishermen’s Mission, have a special place in most people’s hearts.
Many families in Lower Brixham have a long and proud history of serving their community through the hard and dangerous occupation of fishing. But newer housing has seen a steady number moving to the town over the years. Brixham people are employed in a variety of other businesses and services, and in farming. Many are involved in the tourist industry. There is a good mix of shops, pubs, hotels and cafes in the parish, and a Tourist Information Centre.
All Saints has always been more than a Sunday church.
Throughout the year the church hosts events, celebrations and gatherings that bring people together from across the local community.
From festivals and live music to fundraising events and open church days, All Saints continues to be a place where community life happens.
Bells, Music and Tradition
Music plays a special role in the life of All Saints.
The church is home to a traditional carillon of bells whose hymns sound out across Brixham each day — a familiar and comforting presence for many local residents.
There is always a special welcome to groups following the story of Rev. Henry Francis Lyte. His hymns can be enjoyed in the setting in which they were written. There is a fully operational good quality organ in All Saints church.
Alongside regular worship, the church hosts music-led services, seasonal celebrations and community events enhanced by the beautiful organ and dedicated choir.
Visit All Saints
Perched high above Brixham Harbour, All Saints offers one of the most striking viewpoints in the town.
Visitors are always welcome to step inside, enjoy the peace of the church and discover its unique connection to Brixham’s fishing heritage.
All Saints’ is a late-Victorian grade II listed building built originally as a chapel-of-ease for Lower Brixham fishermen and their families in 1813.
The church has simple, strong lines and includes a side-chapel re-creating the closed chapel of St Peter the Fisherman. Our tower contains a carillon of bells, with a team of carillon bell-ringers. Hymns are played manually prior to the Sunday and Tuesday services and other special services, and mechanically for the rest of the week. Henry Lyte’s hymns When at thy footstool, Lord, I bend and Praise, my soul, the King of heaven are rung at 8am and 12 noon, with Abide with Me to signal the end of each day at 8pm. All Saints has a small dedicated choir, and music plays a leading role in the wide range of church services held, enhanced by the fine church organ.
All Saints’ dominates the skyline around Brixham, so God always has a visible presence! The church sits high above the town, and access presents difficulties, particularly for those with mobility issues. Parking is very restricted, but the main town car park is situated nearby.
We have no church hall and therefore many activities take place within the church itself, eg the Sea Week festival with the Fishermen’s Mission, RNLI, school visits, fish and chip suppers with live music, church coffee mornings, and flower festivals with an enthusiastic flower-arranging team. Lyte Fingers is a craft fund-raising team who contribute significantly throughout the year.
The churchyard is a simple area of sloping grassland that is being developed as an environmental wildlife area, supported by church and local community members. The churchyard is not consecrated.
How You Can Help All Saints church
Supporting All Saints is about more than preserving a historic building.
It is about protecting a place of community, heritage, welcome and hope for future generations of Lower Brixham.
There are many ways to support:
- donate
- volunteer
- attend events
- share our story
- organise a fundraiser
- become part of the community
Together, we can help All Saints thrive into the future.
Other Information
Forming a peninsula, Brixham has a unique charm that sees visitors and holidaymakers returning year upon year to sample the wonderful coastal paths and busy atmosphere of the town.
Brixham has a popular Heritage Museum and entertainment can be found in the shows at the Brixham Theatre. Around the quay are many sources of fun and adventure including a replica of Drake’s ship, ‘The Golden Hind’. Alongside the Lifeboat Station is the Sea Rangers headquarters. Trips are available by rail (from Paignton), bus and boat from the quay as well as regular daily ferry sailings to Torquay or Dartmouth.
During the busy summer months all kinds of festivals take place from our own ‘Festival of the Sea’, which sees the church bedecked in all things seafaring, to the Pirate Festival, Trawler Races and especially sea-food.