Welcome

About Us

Bourton-on-the-Water Baptist Church is a small, friendly, church situated in the centre of the village of Bourton- on-the-Water in the beautiful Cotswold hills in Gloucestershire.  We are committed to serving the local community, particularly through our weekly drop-in ‘Open4U’, and also have links with the local schools; in addition, we run Cafe Tots every Wednesday from 9.15 am until 11:30 am in the Church Hall for families with children up to pre-school age . Our Sunday morning worship at 10:30 am is for all ages. We have meetings during the week for bible study and prayer and also work with the other local churches in Bourton. Our aim is to share the love of Jesus through word and deed. If you would like more details please phone the Church Office on 01451 824225.

Our Facilities

Parking: Limited on-site parking, local car parks, Some local street parking. Special needs: Wheelchair access into the church is available. We also have a toilet for the disabled and a hearing aid loop.

History of the Church

Bourton-on-the-Water Baptist Church came into being around the 1650s.  The area was a nursery of non- conformism and Bourton's 1200-odd inhabitants belonged to just about every denomination available. As time wore on, the various Baptist congregations moved closer together and eventually merged, building their own Meeting House in 1701 on the site now occupied by the cemetery.  In 1740, a vacancy for the post of minister arose and the choice fell on a promising lad of only 23, Benjamin Beddome.  So popular was Beddome that, even before he had accepted the post full-time, and even though he was still a young bachelor, his flock started collecting to build a grand new manse for him.  They raised the huge sum of £217, enough to build a handsome double-fronted home, which he moved into when he married in 1749. The house was sold by the church in 1938 and today is the Old Manse Hotel in the centre of the village. Beddome stayed in the Church for 55 years, dying in the house on 3rd September 1795, aged 79.  He was not only a well loved pastor and preacher, but had a growing reputation as a hymn writer. The current Baptist church was built in 1875 and continues to be a centre of Christian witness in Bourton-on-the- Water.