DURSTON, a parish in the northern division of the
hundred of PETHERTON, county of SOMERSET, 4 miles
(N.E. by E.) from Taunton, containing 211 inhabitants.
The living is a perpetual curacy, in the archdeaconry
of Taunton, and diocese of Bath and Wells. The Rev.
R. Gray was patron in 1823. The church, which has
been lately enlarged, is dedicated to St. John. At
Minchin-Buckland, or Buckland-Sororum, in this parish,
a priory of canons regular of the order of St. Augustine
was founded about 1167, which being suppressed, the
house and estates were given to the Knights Hospitallers,
for the establishment of a nunnery of their own order.
Subsequently there was a priory of canonesses of St.
Augustine, and a preceptory of Knights Hospitallers,
the former of which, at the dissolution, had a revenue
amounting to £223. 7. 4.