In 1835 the good Baptist people of Keynsham saw the opening of their brand new church, behind a front garden in the centre of the main High Street. This was no doubt a building that was exclusively a church for the purpose of worshipping God and we suspect that other than Sundays it experienced little usage for anything else.

Fast forward to 2025 and that building still stands in the same location but being a church for worship is but a small part of its purpose. It is now a living building that provides five alternative spaces for community use at very reasonable rates.

It has been classified as a Grade 2 listed building. Whilst the church has a fellowship of around fifty people the estimation is that annually somewhere in the region of 3000 people pass over its door step for one purpose our another not connected with religion.

During that time span the church, in the 1970s, enjoyed a complete renovation of the sanctuary and in the next decade the ancillary rooms were refurbished.

Now in 2024 the church finds itself facing a significant and necessary renovation of the Sanctuary both to return it to is former glory but also to ensure that there is no structural danger to those using the Sanctuary and that it is weather proof.

The roof in one place is open to the sky, the original ceiling has suffered the passage of time as have the roof timbers. Internally there are areas of damp and crumbling cornices. There is cracking in the walls in places and the outside facade is also at risk from the surface breaking up, with existing cracking certainly of the outer surface. The windows also let cold air in.

There is also a need to carry out a significant refurbishment of the ancillary rooms. Rooms that are heavily used by the community at large as the venue for their clubs, groups, charities and much more. The toilets are also in need of updating and an enhancement of their appearance. There is a general appearance of being well worn and in places sad.

Every Baptist church in the UK, though in membership with the Baptist Union of Great Britain, is independent and therefore has to finance itself with no reliance on external funding from within the Baptist Union. All normal running costs for the building and the payment of a stipend to the minister comes from monies donated by the fellowship, be they members or non-member who regularly attend.