Our Town - Community

Barnstaple is the principal town of North Devon. The town has a population of about 22,000 but is surrounded by dormitory estates such as Roundswell to the west which adds a further 30,000 people.

It is the centre of a tourist area with the Atlantic Coast and the South West Coast Path nearby. Woolacombe is about 12 miles away with its famous beach.

Barnstaple has a good shopping centre with many High Street names supporting it. The Church itself adjoins the popular Green Lanes Centre. Tescos and Sainsburys have large stores at opposite ends of the town.

There are 2 good state comprehensive schools one at Pilton and one near Rock Park and a range of good primary schools. The Private sector is represented at West Buckland about 5 miles away and in Bideford at Grenville and Edgehill Colleges. North Devon College on Sticklepath Hill is a Tertiary College providing sixth form education, vocational and non-vocational courses. The Leisure Centre with a modern good size swimming pool and the Tarka Tennis Centre can be found to the south of the River Taw at Seven Brethren Bank.

Barnstaple has retained its rail link to Exeter and there is a good highway (A361) linking the town with M5 junction 27 and Tiverton Parkway station. Other old rail lines have been turned into recreational trails for walking and cycling. Exmoor and Dartmoor are both 30/45 mins away by car.

In the past Barnstaple has been notorious for its traffic problems but this has been alleviated by the opening of the western by pass and bridge ( May 2007 )

Link to multimap of Church Location

The Bridge Under Construction 2006

 

 

The bridge complete

Church History

 

We can trace our origins back to 1814 when there is a record of baptisms in the River Taw. The first building was erected on the present site in 1833 and because of the increase in numbers under the ministry of Rev Samuel Newnam in 1858 it was pulled down and the current building erected in 1860 to a design of J. D. Gould the Borough architect who was responsible for the design of many important buildings in Barnstaple during this period. The Church is Grade II listed as is the adjacent hall which was constructed about 10 years later. May House next door, the original Manse, was sold and is now operated by Young Devon as accommodation for single persons to rent.

The Church Today

With the approval of The Listed Buildings Committee in Didcot who have delegated powers under Planning Law, permission has been given to modernise our premises and this has been carried out.

The pulpit that dates from 1915, has been removed as have all the pews which were installed earlier. The floor has now being levelled and new chairs have been purchased. The electrical and AV wiring has also been upgraded. Our plans, however go beyond this to include amongst other things, a lift, revised entrance hall and a fire escape exit to the south to be carried out when available funding permits. The supporting statement is available for inspection. The main church roof was renovated in 1995 and the hall roof was re tiled in 2003.

Upgrading of the toilets is being planned now and can be carried out within the permissions that are in place. We hope to start the toilet work this August.

The Trust Deeds of the Church are administered by the South West Baptist Association

The Pulpit All Gone!!

The Old Pews

More Old Pews

One Left!

Nearly Gone!

None Left

Boarding The floor

Carpet Down

The Chairs Are Here

The 1st Phase is Complete

The first phase of the renovation programme is complete. February 2007. The screens and the new lecturn are up and running and have been much admired.

The Wider Fellowship

We have a good relationship with our friends in other Churches, including Grosvenor Church an Evangelical Church with Brethren roots on the eastern edge of town, Holy Trinity, St Paul’s Church Sticklepath and Roundswell Church, next to Sainsburys. We hold united services occasionally. In 2006 we joined together to bring a North Devon DVD Relay of the J John Just 10 Meetings from Crealy Park Exeter. This was held at Grosvenor Church that was full on each occasion. Our music group led the worship there on 2 of the 10 evenings. We are also taking part in the Hope 2008 celebrations. There is to be an Open Air Service at Barnstaple Square on June 29th 2008

Our Music Group leading worship at J John- June 2006

The Capernwray Team with some of our young people March 2006

Lovosice

For the past 10 years or so our church has been linked with the Baptist church in Lovosice Czech Republic. The South West Baptist Association has wider links with the Czech Baptists. Lovosice is situated about 60K north of Prague and recently inducted a new minister, Radek Pospisil, following the retirement of Jan Vychopen. We have visited Lovosice twice and the Church there have also been here on 2 occasions the most recent being in 2005. Radek has written to us (September 2006) inviting us to visit again in 2007. In 2003 we included a visited to IBTS in Prague. Several members have formed firmer friendships with members of the Church and have undertaken private visits in addition.

 

Prague Trams

I love Prague trams. A great way to get around the city.

I B T S- Hotel Jeneralka

IBTS is on the outskirts of Prague. A haven of tranquility in an otherwise noisy environment. For visitors it has recently rebranded itself as hotel Jeneralka.