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History

Roll of Honour?

Paul the apostle, having cogently argued his accreditation to be a Christian minister, goes on to point out the hazards of the job - "I have worked much harder, I have been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely...constantly on the move, in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from foreigners, in danger in the city, in danger in the country, and in danger from false brothers. I have laboured and toiled and have often gone without sleep. I have known hunger and thirst, and have often gone without food. I have been cold and naked. Besides all this I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches." (1 Cor 11 23-28)

Heaven alone will tell

A wooden panel in the church records the long succession of ministers that have served the church in its 350 year history. Their names are listed here, together with biographical information and some "recorded highlights" of their ministry.

Rev. Henry Hynam 1645 - 1679

True date of commencement of duties is unknown. On his death on April 19th 1679, he became the first person in Bristol to be buried in "unconsecrated" ground, being laid to rest in the burying-ground in Redcross Street.

Rev. Andrew Gifford 1677 - 1721 Serving the church for nearly 50 years, the first 28 being a time of bitter persecution, he nonetheless had a significant and fruitful ministry.

Rev Emmanuel Gifford 1705 - 1723

Son of Andrew Gifford, he carried on a joint ministry with his father as elder and preacher at a time when the church had over 500 members, and had a significant role in the founding of many other Baptist churches. Particular links were with the churches at Hanham and Keynsham, daughter congregations served for many years by the assistant pastors of the 'mother' church. On his father's death, Andrew succeeded to the pastorate of the 'Church in the Pithay', but died two years later.

Rev. William Bazley 1723 - 1736

Rev. John Beddome 1724 - 1754

Rev. John Tommas 1752 - 1800

Rev. John Sharp 1797 - 1805

Rev. Thomas Roberts M.A. 1807 - 1841 Rev Roberts came to the church after a period of significant decline, but his preaching gifts, ("the only extempore preacher I have ever listened to with pleasure" - Samuel Taylor Coleridge), and vigorous leadership soon made the meeting house overflow once again, and the move to larger premises at Old King Street was in his time. He took a leading role in the crusade that led to the Act of Emancipation in 1834, and the freeing of British slaves, and then turned his attention to the slaves of America, championing their cause. Prison visiting was a key part of his ministry. In London on one occasion, he went to Newgate prison, and conversed with all the prisoners, with the result that he obtained a commutation of the death penalty for 6 of them.

Rev G H Davies 1842 - 1854

Rev F Bosworth 1854 - 1865

Rev T Wheeler 1865 - 1870

Rev R C Nightingale 1871 - 1873

Rev G D Evans 1874 - 1889

Rev James Moffat Logan 1890 - 1903 Pastoring in Bromley in 1890, Moffat Logan asked God one evening for a wider ministry. The following day, an invite came to be pastor of Old King Street. When he arrived, he found 60 worshippers in the morning, and 120 in the evening, but within 15 months, congregations had grown to 1,000 or more.

Rev Benjamin J Gibbon 1904 - 1916 With previous "successful" pastorates in Southampton (East Street) and London (Bloomsbury), Rev Gibbon came to Bristol to escape the strains and health hazards of London life. But his fruitful ministry continued, 83 new members being added in the first year of his ministry. The war took away many of the members of the "Men's Own Meeting" that he had started on a Sunday afternoon, but when after 13 years in Bristol he moved to Leicester, membership had risen from the 542 at commencement to 698.

Rev W E West BA 1918 - 1925

Rev C S Rudge BA 1926 - 1938

Dr E J Tongue BA DD 1939 - 1947 "Many folk, however, in almost all our churches have had homes and businesses damaged or destroyed, some more than once. The spirit of the people is wonderful...Most churches are rendering in some form or another special service to the community. Several provide an air raid hostel where homeless people can be housed and fed for a time after a raid. Old King Street has done outstanding service in this way. Ringed round with fires on more than one occasion, and with high explosive bombs falling around, Dr Tongue and his heroic band of workers have dealt with overwhelming crowds of frightened homeless folk, and with the help of Public Assistance officials, have ministered to the needs of body and soul in a way that is beyond praise. . . . Bristol may be 'cast down', but it is not 'destroyed'. And the Baptists are keeping their end up." Baptist Times - April 1941

Rev Gordon Hamlin BA 1950 - 1953

Rev Arthur J Sleeman 1956 - 1966

Rev James McHaffie 1967 - 1972

Rev John E Burt 1973 - 1977

Rev David M Winfield 1978 - 1988

Rev Tony Matthews 1989 - 2000

Mike Pears 2000 -

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