History Timeline

Pastors from Clarence Park, Wadham Street and Bristol Road Baptist churches discussed starting a work at Milton. The churches each agreed to contribute £150.

A church building was erected in Salisbury Road for £447. The induction service was held on 12 August and the first evening service on 15 August, with a morning service following the next week.

Rev Herbert Drake moved to Brixham Baptist Church.

Rev Cecil Thompson arrived as pastor at Clarence Park, which took sole responsibility for the Milton work.

Mr Lawrence, a retired police officer, offered to pastor the new church and joined the service rota.

The Ladies' Meeting and Boys' Brigade began.

Seven people were baptised at Clarence Park, the Girls' Brigade began and the Baytree Road site was bought for £415.

Pastor Lawrence gave up the work because of ill health.

Clarence Park called Rev W. A. Pearce as assistant pastor for Milton. A manse was rented at 56 Baytree Road.

The new Baytree Road church opened in January. It was built by John Dyer for £3,280, and the Salisbury Road building was sold to the Salvation Army.

Rev Pearce moved to Birmingham. A London school used the church buildings and teacher Norman Finney pastored the fellowship and led services.

An incendiary bomb came through the roof. It was quickly extinguished and the damage repaired.

The school returned to London. Norman Finney stayed for a time because of ill health before giving up the Milton work.

Miss Sybil Staples was sent as MBC's first Baptist Missionary Society missionary.

Clarence Park called Rev William Hitchcock as assistant pastor.

Milton Baptist Church became an independent Baptist church in June and established its first membership roll.

MBC celebrated its 25th anniversary and completed extensive work to the premises.

The manse at 66 Baytree Road was bought for £3,750 and Rev Hitchcock moved in.

Rev Hitchcock left for Maldon Baptist Church and Rev Phillip Gathercole began his ministry at MBC.

New church buildings were completed at a cost of £14,350.

MBC celebrated its 50th anniversary and completed further work to the premises.

Rev Phillip Gathercole moved to Tonbridge Wells Baptist Church.

Roger Collins became pastor. The manse moved to 20 Ashcombe Gardens and the former manse was sold.

Brian Lawrence became assistant pastor. A manse was provided at 84 St Marks and possible work in Worle was investigated.

Brian Lawrence left to become the first pastor of Worle Baptist Church. Antony Orr became assistant pastor at MBC.

Mark Griffiths became assistant pastor for the developing work in Nailsea.

Marianne Orr was inducted into ministry at MBC.

Roger Collins, Antony Orr and Marianne Orr concluded their ministries at MBC.

Retired minister Rev William Hitchcock was appointed Pastor Emeritus.

D. Marc Owen began his ministry at MBC.

Signs of structural failure were found in the old church building.

The church decided to rebuild. The rebuild and refit was estimated at £900,000, supported by a £550,000 building fund, a £150,000 Baptist Union loan and further giving.

The church met at Worle School during redevelopment and used a room above Poppadoms as an office.

The congregation returned to the new building on 4 April. The building work itself cost £806,370.

Alpha and the luncheon club began.

The Baptist Union loan was repaid, leaving £77,000 in the Ministry at Milton Reserve Fund. Emma Smith began as Student Youth Worker.

Andy Cowie joined YWAM and Mercy Ships, serving until 2007. Romanian ministry continued to develop. Roy Connor joined MBC as Associate Pastor.

Emma Smith became Youth and Community Worker.

D. Marc Owen concluded his ministry at MBC.

Roy Connor left, John S. Smith arrived as pastor and Elaine 'Shaggy' Abdon Shortley became Pastoral Worker in October.

Pauline Carr Woods became Administration Manager.

Andy Pearce became Youth and Children's Pastor. Emma Smith left in June.

Andy and Jutta Cowie served with BMS in Guinea for eight months and then Haiti for three years. Pauline Carr Woods retired, Tunde Szabo became Administration Manager in June and Becky Allison became Children and Family Pastor in September.

John S. Smith retired in December.

Andy and Jutta Cowie returned to serve with BMS in Guinea until 2023. Andy Pearce concluded his ministry at MBC.

Bob McKay arrived as pastor. Elaine 'Shaggy' Abdon Shortley concluded her ministry at MBC.

Tunde Szabo left in August.

Hannah Piper became Youth Pastor in November.

Hannah Piper concluded her ministry at MBC.

Bob McKay concluded his ministry in April.

Andy and Jutta Cowie began work for MBC. Dr Lou Luft became Minister in Training and Jutta Cowie became Minister in Training at Emersons Green. Becky Allison concluded her ministry. Rev Dr Lou Luft was inducted as pastor in November.

MBC marked 100 years since the first service in Salisbury Road, giving thanks for God's faithfulness from 1926 to 2026.