Bishop Auckland Baptist Church

Westfield Road, Bishop Auckland, Co. Durham, DL14 6AE

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SUNDAY SERVICE TIMES
10.30am Morning Worship
6.00pm Evening Worship

ADDITIONAL NOTE: Children are welcome to attend Sunday Club during the morning service

HISTORY
Members of Hamsterley Baptist Church established the Church, in 1873. The congregation initially met in a "tin tabernacle" near the River Wear, in which early converts were baptised. The present building dates from 1910, and a wealthy local family, who owned department stores in the area, were largely responsible for financing its construction. It is built of local stone, and has a slate roof. Seating in the main sanctuary is mainly on traditional pews, with a few more comfortable chairs. There is a balcony, which runs along the back and sides of the interior, and the building seats 270 people. There is a small platform at the front, and a fine carved oak pulpit. Other facilities include a pleasant lounge, which has seating for around 50 people, and a well equipped kitchen. Upstairs, there is a large games room and two smaller rooms.

Membership of the church has never exceeded 100 people, and in 1972 was so small that public worship was suspended for six months. However, in December of that year, services re-commenced, under Rev E W Wright, initially in the lounge, and then in the main sanctuary, from July 1973, appropriately marking the church's centenary.

As one of five churches under Revd Wright's leadership, there was a steady increase in membership for about five years. The next minister, Revd Eric Laing, was appointed with responsibility for three churches, and by his departure in 1986, the membership had increased to 37. There followed almost two years, with no full time minister, before Rev Stan Woods was appointed as minister of the one church. Our next Minister was the Rev David Archer, who was succeeded by our present minister, Rev Tim Cook, in November 1998.

MISSION STATEMENT
Finding God, Following Jesus, Serving Others - Together

CONTACT NAME, ADDRESS AND NUMBER
Church administrator:
Anne Stalley
Tel: 01388 603521
a.stalley@tiscali.co.uk