Church History
On 16th April 1862 a meeting
took place in a house in Adelaide Street at which it was decided by the 15 people
present to form a Baptist Church here in Redditch. At first meetings where held
in the Warwick Arms Room in Ipsley, then four years later the foundation stone
was laid for their own Church building on a site directly opposite where they
had been meeting. This new Church building opened 24th April 1868.
Our first Church was built in Ipsley Street, where we met between 1868 - 1897.
As the years went by God blessed the Church to such an extent that the building became too small to hold
the number of people attending, and as they was no room 
for expansion on the
present site, it was decided to purchase a new site on the east side of Ipsley
Green at the corner of Millsboro Road (£750). The building itself cost
£4,197 to build.
At first the Church continued to prosper with every Church Meeting having applications for membership submitted. But
with the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, the Church suffered the loss
of many of its young men, and the news of the loss
created an atmosphere of
depression amongst the fellowship. As industry struggled to meet the demands
of the war effort the Church was called upon to face a difficult decision. A
local factory that adjoined the rear of the Church premises needed more room
in order to expand its production. With heavy hearts theChurch decided to sell
the property and temporary accommodation was secured for the Church in the Temperance
Hall.
Within a short time land was purchased at Easemore Road which is our present site, and shortly after
the war ended the building work began.
In 1954 the Church was invited by the Redditch
Christian Council to form some type of 'witness' on the Studley Road housing
estate (Greenlands). It was decided to open a Sunday School on the estate and
so another building was erected and opened 15th October 1960. It was the first
missionary endeavour of its kind undertaken in the Association for over 50 years.
Many members of the Church gave of their time & effort to witnessing to
those on the estate and God blessed their work. However with age and ill health
those running the work eventually had to retire.
When deciding whether or not this work should be carried
on, it was realised that everybody who had been reached through the Sheldon
Road ministry where now attending the Easemore Road site, it seemed that this
mode of witness was coming to an end. It was decided to sell the building. Many
prospective buyers emerged and either we could not with a Christian conscience
sell to some of them, or the sale fell through - it seemed that God had other
things in mind.Then the Church was approached by the
Abundant Life Full Gospel Church with a request to lease the premises until
they could afford to buy it. This offer was gladly accepted and we are pleased
to know that God's witness is continuing in Greenlands through this work.