[2][3][4] Townsend Cemetery was established in 1873–74, at a time when the burial spaces in the churchyards of St Bartholomew and Christ Church were reaching close to capacity.

Both schemes were approved and the Burial Board was elected during the meeting, made up of Messrs. Cuff, Poole, Sparks, Horsey, Bird, Wills, Jolliffe, Hussey and Stembridge.

The cost included £1,250 for purchase of the site, £250 for the construction of boundary walls and fences, £225 for a lodge house, £1,000 for two chapels and £200 for laying out the grounds.

The Board had also approved plans by the nurseryman and landscape gardener Mr. J. Scott of Merriott for the layout of the grounds, as well as his tender to carry out the work for £150.

With over 30 submissions received for the design of the chapels and lodge, those of the London architect George Nattriss were selected, along with the tender of Richard Draper of Crewkerne to build them for £1,452.

[5] The cemetery opened in 1874 and the Bishop of Bath and Wells, Arthur Hervey, consecrated the Church of England section, including its chapel, on 3 November 1874.