  |
HistoryThe Current EraThe church used to be based in the Broadmead area of Central Bristol, in Old King Street (site now occupied by BHS). This building was knocked down in 1956 as part of the Council's redevelopment of the whole area into a shopping centre. We have therefore been in our current location since 1956 when this former "inner-city" church joined the drift to suburbia. A wooden panel in the church records the long succession of ministers that have served the church in its 350 year history. But see the notes below for some extracts of other aspects of our history. From the church archivesThe church held Tercentenary celebrations in 1950 for which it produced a brief history combined with comments of past members, and lists of current officials. This 35 page document is available here as a pdf file (350K) including pictures. Five years later, much of the same text, but with some other historical references was included in a "Short History of Old King Street Baptist Church", published to coincide with the closing of the church in Broadmead. (pdf file 324K) Contact the webmaster if you would like text versions of these documents. A comprehensive history of the church, 1640-1933 written by JOHN SILAS MERRITT is available in the church's archives (in manuscript form), and a transcript of much of the first volume (1640 - 1832) is included here (330K). Volume 2 covers 1892 to 1912, and is transcribed here. (866K) The following is a synopsis and mix of extracts from that 4 volume work, and other books and documents. 1640-1699 - "The church in The Friars"
1640-1650 BIRTHThe exact date of the founding of Cairns Road Baptist Church is not recorded. The earliest existing records relates to the 11th of the ninth month 1652. It is supposed to have been founded by John Cann, a Baptist, and pastor of the ancient English Church at Amsterdam, who visited Bristol, A.D. 1640-41. To those who could not conscientiously conform to the Established Church, he gave instructions showing how they should join together and receive members. The earliest baptism of which record can be found was on the 15th of the twelfth month, 1652. Mr Hynam is supposed to have been the first pastor, but when he entered on his ministerial duties is altogether unknown. It is evident, however, that the church must have been numerous and influential, and must have existed for some time previous to 1652, for them to have been in a position to maintain a pastor. Ivimey, the Baptist historian, says the origin of the Baptists in the city of Bristol is traced to about 1640. Of Mr Hynams life and ministerial labours little is known, but from the records he appears to have been an active, zealous man, a strict disciplinarian, and a promoter of meetings for fasting and prayer. During the earliest part of his ministry the church (in common with other Dissenters) enjoyed much freedom under the favour of the Protector, Oliver Cormwell. Cromwell dying in 1659, the troubles of the Dissenters began. 1660 - PERSECUTIONCharles the Second, in anticipation of restoration to the crown, issued a declaration at Breda, April 14th, 1660, in which he declared a liberty to tender consciences, and that no man should be disquieted or called in question for difference of opinion on matters of religion, and promised consent to an act of parliament for the full grant of such indulgence. Notwithstanding all these fair pretensions, the purpose of the royalists was soon discovered. The old penal laws were revived, every magistrate had power to persecute Dissenters, and the troubles of the Baptists set in like a spring-tide. "The Conventicle Act was passed by Parliament A.D. 1664, its object being to break up the religious assemblies of the puritans, and silence the ejected clergy. This Act inflicted on all persons above the age of sixteen who attended a conventicle (any religious gathering, except at the parish church, where five persons were present more than the household) a fine of £5, or three months imprisonment for the first offence; £10, or six months imprisonment, for the second offence; and, for the third offence, £100, or transportation for seven years, with a felons death in case of escape or return. This punishment took effect on conviction before a single justice of the peace, and without trial by jury. Authority was given to all constables and head-boroughs to break open any house where they suspected a forbidden assembly. One clause in this Act is remarkable - that if any dispute should arise with regard to the interpretation of any part of the Act, the judges should always explain the doubt in the sense least favourable to the conventicles, it being the intention of Parliament entirely to suppress them." "Mr Andrew Gifford, second pastor of our church, was the son of Mr Hugh Gifford, a cooper of Redcliff Street. He was born in 1642, and ordained on the 3rd of June 1677. He had been a preacher for some time before his ordination, history recording the hazards of that calling in those days. Non-conformist preachers were liable to arrest, so the congregations placed brethren on the watch to announce the approach of informers, on whose coming preaching or prayer was suspended, and the congregation united in a psalm. In one place the minister would be screened from his audience by a curtain, to prevent his identification by a foe. In another a secret door was formed in the wall through which he might escape. In a third he spoke from an upper room through a trap-door, or from an adjoining house through an aperture in the wall. The course adopted by Mr Giffords people was this: a company of tall brethren stood around the speaker, who had a trap-door near his feet, so that when the informers came he was let down into a room underneath. One was kept at the door to give notice." Nor did Mr Gifford confine his preaching to behind closed doors. "He was once invited to preach a funeral sermon at a market town in Somersetshire, for the wife of one of the most wealthy inhabitants. Leave was easily obtained for him to have the use of the church for the occasion. But the opponents of this arrangement kept the organ playing so long after he was in the pulpit, that, perceiving their intention, he retired into the churchyard, and standing upon a high tomb-stone, without any further disturbance, addressed a numerous audience from John 2.25-26 - I am the resurrection and the life, etc." To avoid the persecution by both the Bishop and Mayor of Bristol, "Mr Gifford frequently preached in the woods at Kingswood, in concert with Mr Fownes, the pastor of Broadmead, and the ministers of James's Back and the Castle. He was often forced to swim across the Avon through great floods in his journeys, which he chose to do rather than disappoint the meeting; and although he escaped drowning, some others who made the same dangerous experiment did not. So great was the attachment of the colliers to this noble pioneer of Whitefield and Wesley that they would form his body-guard while preaching, and if any interruption was occasioned by spies, informers, or officers, they would disguise him with a large great-coat, and placing a pitch fork filled with hay on his shoulder, effectually secure his retreat. Occasionally, however, he fell into the hands of the enemy, and was treated with great severity. Four times he suffered imprisonment in Charles' reign - three times in Newgate (Bristol), and once in Gloucester Castle." "On Wednesday, the 14th of December, 1681, in the afternoon, Hellier (the city attorney), and Capt. Arundell, with their petty constables, and workmen went to Mr Giffords meeting-house, broke open the door, pulled down the pulpit, seats and glass windows, and carried all away. The damage done to Mr Giffords meeting-house and others was estimated at more than £200." "In order to escape the fury of his adversaries it was not unusual for Mr Gifford to disguise himself by assuming different dresses, sometimes the habit of an officer or the like as occasion required and opportunity served. Sometimes his disguises were so successful as to deceive even his personal friends. One day meeting Mr Lazarus Brain, he said, Did you not meet me last night, going through Lawfords gate? Why did you not speak to me. I did not see you, sir. Did you not meet a tinker? Yes, sir. That was I, Lazarus, said Mr Gifford." 1684 saw Gifford's final imprisonment, and the surrounding circumstances bear re-telling in detail. "On the 20th of January, on account of the extreme cold, Mr Gifford and his people were compelled to retire from their meeting in the fields to a house of a friendly collier, named Gold, near Dungens (Don Johns) cross. The informers, who had a warrant signed by no fewer than thirteen magistrates, had employed two boys to watch their movements who went and told them where they were. So they came and beset the house, recorded all the names, and took Mr Gifford, first to the Sun Ale-house, and then to the Newtons Arms. Here they kept him all night, and the next morning had him before Justices Newton and Meredith, who made out his mittimus to Gloucester. ....... the very night before his apprehension. Mrs Gifford dreamed that he arose to go out to preach according to his appointment; but that, upon his opening the door, the very first step he took was up to his knees in snow; that on perceiving this, she endeavoured to dissuade him from his purpose, but in vain; that he was seized by two persons, whose names she mentioned, and taken to the Sun Tavern, without Lawfords Gate, and there confined in a dining room, being placed behind a particular table; and that the men, by main force, held him down, the one by leaning on his right shoulder, and the other on his left. This dream made such an impression on her mind that she awoke with the fright, told him the whole, and, as she had dreamed, said every thing she could to dissuade him. But he told her she talked like one of the foolish women, and that nothing should hinder him from his Masters business. Accordingly, they arose, and on opening the yard door, they found that a great snow had fallen in the night which had been so drifted up to the house, that the very first step he took, he was, indeed, up to his knee. On this, Mrs Gifford naturally renewed her importunity, which he again withstood. The result was, that he was that very day apprehended, and all the circumstances corresponded with the dream." "While Mr Gifford was in prison, to prevent his preaching anymore in public, his enemies procured an order from court, by means of the Duke of York, afterwards the sweet- natured James the Second , to confine him there for life. When the six months mentioned in the mittimus were expired, Mr Gifford desired the keeper to dismiss him; who answered that it was not usual to open the gates at midnight. He replied, that they were opened to let him in, and therefore why should they not be opened to let him out? Having been secretly apprised of the design of his enemies to detain him, he strengthened his demand by a well-known powerful argument, and so prevalent was its potency, that the gates were actually opened for his discharge, as the chimes were playing at twelve o clock at night - the very hour at which he had been admitted. Within six hours, an express arrived from London, with an order to confine him for life! On the night of Mr Giffords expected release from gaol, it is related that Mr Joseph Houlton, a minister, had provided a relay of horses to convey him, with as much speed as possible, from the gaol doors to somewhere in the neighbourhood of Trowbridge, where he could be kept in hiding until they knew the intentions of his persecutors. If so, it is not unlikely that Mr Gifford, when he claimed his discharge at the midnight hour, knew that horses were waiting for him outside the gaol." Such was the pattern of life, until in 1688 the Act of Toleration, the Magna Charter of the Protestant Dissenters, secured to British subjects liberty to worship God in a manner their own consciences approved. Changes did not happen overnight, but gradually life for the Dissenters became more tolerable. It was during Mr Giffords ministry that the church removed from the Fryers to the Pithay. This place, formerly a 'sope-house', was in 1699 purchased for £168. It is described, at the time, as near the Pithay, and opposite the Pithay Pump, and as including the outlet or pavement appertaining to the said 'sope-house'. It was taken down and a meeting house erected on the site. Mr Gifford has been described as "the apostle of the West, having been the founder or builder up of many of the Baptist Churches in Somersetshire, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire. These churches with a parental fondness, he frequently visited, spending a good deal of his time in itinerating among them, and encouraging and strengthening them." Andrew Gifford continued as pastor until he died aged 79 in 1721, when he was succeeded (briefly) by his son Emanuel. Emanuel had become an elder of the Pithay congregation in 1705, and for many years was a recognised 'preacher'. During his ministry, daughter congregations were formed at Keynsham and Hanham, but he died shortly after his father in 1723, and was buried in the same graveyard in Redcross Street. To return to the home page click on the blue Cairns Road at the top and bottom of each page |
 |