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“The new Baptist Church in Thrissell Street near Lawrence Hill will be opened
on Monday 25th July inst when three sermons will be preached on the occasion.......... in the morning afternoon and evening.”
This advert in 1831 heralded the birth of our present church.
The group meeting at that time was known as 'The Christian Society Meeting in
Thrissell Street'. From the very beginning a Sunday school was part of the
story. Students from the Baptist College took the services and the whole work
was greatly supported by the other Baptist churches in the city. The architect
of this new building was Charles Underwood and the builder, John Higgs.
The Christians meeting there were officially recognised as a church a year later
under the leadership of Rev. Francis Clowes, the first pastor. In October 1833
membership was recognised and a Statement of Faith formulated. Under the
guidance of changing pastors the work gradually increased both spiritually and
numerically. To satisfy this growing need a baptistery and galleries were built.
After a tragic fire in February 1855 which left just the shell of the building,
the church was redesigned to be larger and include additional school rooms, all
designed by Bristol Architect, William Crisp. The builder was John Neale of
Bedminster.
Numbers continued to grow until it was realised in 1882 that a “more commodious”
building was required. The next few years were taken up with negotiations as a
new building took shape in Stapleton Road under the able leadership of the godly
Rev. Cornelius Griffiths. On the 10th April 1888 the building which we still use
today was officially opened with much celebration and thanksgiving. The
Architect was T L Watson of Glasgow and the builder, John Hayes of Bristol. It
would seat over 1000 people and to the rear spacious Sunday school
accommodation, additional rooms, kitchen and toilet facilities were provided.
Thrissell Street Chapel was sold to Carlton and Co., an engineering company, for
£650. Exchange took place in November 1887.
The new place of worship was to be called, “Stapleton Road Baptist Church”, and
the communion set and ledgers were inscribed with ‘SRBC’. However, because of
great confusion with a church nearby, the name was changed to, “Kensington
Baptist Church”.
In 1901 changes were made to the area behind the pulpit when a new Pipe Organ
was installed. This organ is still in use most Sundays.
Through the years the church has been blessed with very faithful Ministers who
have led and taught the people as well as encouraging Evangelism and Mission.
One of note from those early years was Rev Douglas Brown who subsequently was
used in the revivals in Lowestoft and East Anglia.
There have been good times and bad. Two world wars have been lived through and
the folk rose to the challenges. Some decisions were difficult to make such as
when the members voted in 1972 to resign from the Baptist Union. However in 1990
a happier decision was made to join the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical
Churches to which the church remains affiliated today. A willingness to adapt,
move with the times and change has been evident. Electricity was installed in
1920 followed by hearing-aid equipment and later still, a public address system.
Overhead projectors have today been replaced with computer technology which
allows song words, scripture verses, sermon outlines and video clips to be
screened for the congregation.
Evangelism has been undertaken through out the years in various forms
appropriate to the culture of the day. Door to door visitation has always been a
feature up to present day. Tent meetings and open air evangelism were the mode
of the 50’s and 60’s. Today the Puppet Team continues this good work visiting
churches, schools, shows and carnivals, with Sketch-art evangelism in places
like shopping centres.
The 9th of September 2001 was a significant day for the church. Half way through
the service the congregation left the building that had been in constant use for
141 years and marched together to the nearby Riverside Boy's Club to complete
the service. This was to be home for the next 14 months. Apart from extensions
to each side of the building in 1974 and 1976 to provide toilet and office
facilities and adaptations to kitchen areas at other times, no great change had
been made to the building over the years. However this time, a major
refurbishment took place on the building. Urgent repairs were completed, along
with remodelling which made 21st century use more convenient and comfortable.
The Architect was Derek Foster-Kemp of Church Projects Ltd. and the builder,
Wilkins & Coventry. On the 10th November 2002 the reverse march took place when
gasps of delight resounded around the church building as people saw the
transformation for the first time.
The modernised premises have provided great opportunity to use the building each
day of the week. A variety of educational and friendship projects have forged
links with the people of the neighbourhood from many parts of the world. Thus
the story of the church continues with the vision of those in 1831, to reach the
people on the east side of Bristol with the good news of Jesus Christ.
For further information the 250 page book ‘Faithfulness’
can be obtained from the church office for £10 inc p&p.
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