‘The new church and community centre is all about people and God’s care for them’  

After years of planning, praying, and perseverance, ground was broken on Evesham Baptist Church’s new site in late November 

The development is set to herald a new season of the life and mission of the Worcestershire church, and represents God’s call over many years. 

Back in 2006 the church had a vision of developing a building fit for both church and local community to grow and serve together. 

However, it couldn’t grow where it was: its existing building in Seward Close, Cowl St, was surrounded by the sheltered housing the church had helped to develop 30 years earlier. 

Minister the Revd Dr Edward Pillar takes up the story, ‘We couldn’t find another site and we had no money.  

‘We went to the local planning department with some initial ideas. We looked around the town for alternative sites or buildings for potential development as a new church centre. But again, nothing come to the fore - everything was either too small or too expensive. 

‘But our ideas for the building simply didn’t resonate with our spirits as the right way forward. 

‘So we prayed!’ 

Two separate weeks of prayer took place in the autumn term. There was ‘a good sense of God’s presence with us as we did so’, says Edward. 

At the end of the second week, to the church’s great surprise, it received notification that it was the beneficiary of a former church member’s will, someone who had lived in Minehead for many years: the church had inherited a four-acre plot of land on the edge of the town. 

 ‘God was answering our prayers,’ says Edward. ‘It seemed clear that God was calling us to plan to move the believing community of Evesham Baptist Church to a new site, to prepare for a new season of mission.’ 

The site is a former market garden, opposite Heather Fields, a large newly built estate, and adjacent to Bromford Housing’s affordable housing development.  

‘At that time the four acre site was very much on the edge of town - a green belt site. When initial planning permission was granted in 2009 any plans for new housing close by were unknown but, God knew! By late 2022, more than 1300 homes have been built around the site, with we’re sure, many more still to come.’ 

Much time has passed since then, many things have changed, ‘but the sense of God’s call upon the church remains,’ continues Edward. 

Having worked with Allan Joyce Architects on the design, last autumn Evesham appointed Barnwood, a Gloucester based construction company, to undertake work on the new development.  

They anticipate they will be ready to open the new building in September 2023. 

Edward says, ‘There will be a café, meeting and activity spaces for all ages, a well-equipped kitchen, a dedicated prayer space, and an auditorium which can meet the needs of music, drama, and other groups. 

‘The church and community centre is all about people and God’s care for them. The church will worship there, welcoming and working with the local community.’  

Claire Goldthorp is a senior architect with Allan Joyce Architects. She said, ‘We have been working closely with Evesham Baptist Church to create a beautiful new building that acts as a gateway to this new area of Evesham.  

‘The design fulfils their wishes to provide a welcoming place of worship with community at the core.’ 

Alongside the generous giving by church members of almost £1m over 25 years, various authorities and trust funds including Wychavon District Council, Evesham Town Council, John Martin’s Charity, All Churches Trust, Norwood & Newton Settlement, and Beatrice Laing will have contributed more than £200,000 to make the build possible. 

 
Pictured are the minister, the Revd Dr Edward Pillar (centre), trustees and other members of Evesham Baptist Church, Claire Goldthorp of AJA (Allan Joyce Architects) in Nottingham and the Barnwood construction team