New to
Counterslip
Welcome to Counterslip
Counterslip is a modern, lively and friendly church community made up of people of different ages, backgrounds and nationalities, seeking to follow Jesus together. We are a Jesus-centred, Bible-based, Spirit-led church, located in South Bristol. At the heart of who we are is a simple desire to be with Jesus, learn from Jesus and become like Jesus in every part of our lives.
We want to walk with anyone who wants to walk towards Jesus, regardless of where they are standing or what they may be standing in right now. Whether you are exploring faith for the first time, returning to church, or looking for a church family, you are warmly invited to join us on a Sunday at the Oasis John Williams school where we meet. The name “Counterslip” comes from Counter Slip, a road in the centre of Bristol, where the church was first established more than 200 years ago, but today our home and our heart are firmly in South Bristol.
Here on this page you can find out more about who we are as a church, what we do, what we believe and how we operate. You can also sign up to let us know you are new to church by filling out the form in the "Next Steps" section.
Our Story
Counterslip began on 12 November 1804, when 49 people left the Pithay Baptist Church and formed a new congregation. As the church grew, it moved first to Counter Slip near Bristol Bridge in 1810, and then to a new chapel and schoolroom on Victoria Street in 1878. During the 1930s, as Bristol expanded southwards, the church purchased a site on Wells Road. After the Victoria Street chapel was bombed during the Second World War, the congregation chose not to rebuild in the city centre but to move the whole church to South Bristol.
Counterslip worshipped on Wells Road until 2024, when we again sensed God calling us to leave our building and step into a new season. We now meet nearby at Oasis Academy John Williams, continuing the church’s long-standing desire to know Jesus and make Him known. Looking to the future, we have a heart to see new churches planted across South Bristol, so that many more people can be with Jesus, learn from Jesus and become like Jesus.
Our Vision
Our vision is also our pathway for discipleship: Be with Jesus, learn from Jesus, become like Jesus. Everything begins with being with Jesus—knowing Him personally and sharing life with His people through worship, Scripture, prayer and the life of the church. From that place, we learn from Jesus as His apprentices: listening to His teaching, watching His way of life and putting what He shows us into practice in our everyday lives, through relationships, serving, home groups and mission.
As we remain with Jesus and learn to follow Him, the Holy Spirit changes us from within, forming in us the character of Christ and producing the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Discipleship is not simply about attending church, gaining knowledge or trying harder in our own strength; it is a lifelong journey of being transformed by the Spirit as we walk with Jesus. Wherever you are starting from, we invite you to take your next step in following Jesus with us.
What we believe
At the heart of our faith is freedom through Jesus, life in the Spirit and hope in God’s glorious future. We believe in one God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—and that the Bible is God-breathed, trustworthy and authoritative for our faith and life. Jesus Christ is fully God and fully human. Through His death on the cross and His resurrection, He brings forgiveness and freedom from sin and death. We understand sin as anything that misses the mark of the fullness of life for which God created us, and we believe salvation is God’s gift of grace, received through faith in Jesus.
We believe the Holy Spirit is God’s presence with us today, bringing us new life, making us more like Jesus and empowering us to join in His work. We believe the Church is the worldwide family of all who belong to Jesus, called to worship God, care for one another and share His good news. We look forward with hope to the return of Jesus, the resurrection of the dead and God’s renewal of all creation. We recognise that Christians may understand some secondary matters differently, but we seek to remain united around Jesus and the central truths of the Christian faith, reflected in the Evangelical Alliance Statement of Faith.
Sundays
Our Sunday gatherings are friendly, welcoming and relaxed. We come together as a church family, but we also gather before the King, so we give much of our time to worship and the teaching of Scripture. Our worship is modern and band-led, and our heart is to draw near to Jesus, encounter His presence and hear His heart for us through His Word. Everyone begins the service together before children and young people leave for their groups. A parent-operated crèche is also available, with a live link to the main service.
We meet at Oasis Academy John Williams at 10:30am and usually finish around 12pm. Refreshments are served from 10am–10:25am and again after the service, giving plenty of opportunity to meet and connect with others. At the end of the service, we often make space for people to respond to what God has said, including the opportunity to receive prayer and invite the Holy Spirit to comfort, encourage and strengthen them. Communion is celebrated regularly and is open to all. There is ample free parking, the site is accessible, and there is no dress code—simply come as you are. Our welcome team will be ready to greet you, answer any questions and help you find your way.
Prayer, Worship & The Holy Spirit
Worship is our response to God for who He is and all He has done. It is not limited to singing, but is a whole life lived to glorify, honour and praise Him. Because Scripture repeatedly calls God’s people to sing, praise, shout and make a joyful noise to the Lord, we give significant space to sung worship in our gatherings. As we worship together, we often become more aware of the presence of Jesus and are drawn closer to Him. Prayer is also woven throughout our life together—in our personal discipleship, home groups, pastoral care and Sunday gatherings, including an early-morning prayer gathering before each service.
We believe Jesus has given His Spirit to live within every believer. The Holy Spirit reveals Jesus to us, reminds us of His words, leads us into truth and shows us where God wants to bring freedom, forgiveness, healing and wholeness. We believe the gifts of the Spirit continue today, and we make space for them to be used in ways that strengthen, encourage and comfort the church. Prophetic words and other contributions are shared with a ministry host, who will help to pray, weigh and test them against Scripture. Following the teaching, we often offer an invitational time of prayer ministry, seeking the Spirit’s guidance as we pray God’s goodness into people’s lives. There is never any pressure to come forward or respond in a particular way; our hope in all these things is simply that people would meet with Jesus.
Communion
Communion is a practice given to us by Jesus through which we remember and proclaim His death until He comes again. Like a song of worship, it declares what we believe about what He has done for us and reminds us of the new covenant God has made through the cross. The bread represents Jesus’ body given for us: He entered our brokenness and bore our sin so that we could be made whole. The cup represents His blood—His life poured out for us. As we receive it symbolically, we remember that Jesus died our death so that we might receive and live His life.
We celebrate communion on the first Sunday of each month, usually following the teaching as part of our sung worship. During a song, everyone is invited to come forward to communion stations, where we serve non-alcoholic grape juice and gluten-free bread. We welcome anyone who wishes to draw near to Jesus and respond to His gift of life; baptism and church membership are not required, and parents may decide whether their children participate. There is no pressure to come forward—people are equally welcome to remain where they are, continue worshipping or simply observe. Communion is one of the ways we come together to be with Jesus, remembering, receiving and declaring the good news of His cross.
Baptism
Baptism is a visible, public declaration of faith in Jesus. Through being lowered beneath the water and raised again, a person acts out their trust in Jesus’ death and resurrection: that He has cleansed them from sin, brought them into new life and made them His own. Baptism represents dying and rising with Christ, the washing away of sin, and becoming part of His Church. It does not save us; salvation is God’s gift of grace received through faith. Rather, baptism is an act of obedience that follows a personal decision to believe in and follow Jesus.
At Counterslip, we practise baptism by full immersion during a Sunday gathering. Anyone considering baptism is invited to speak with the pastor, who will meet with them to hear their story, explain the meaning of baptism and give them the opportunity to ask questions. Readiness is considered individually, rather than according to a set minimum age. Those being baptised normally share something of their testimony with the church, and baptism ordinarily also marks their welcome into church membership, unless they do not wish to become a member at that time.
Membership
Church membership is a covenant to walk together towards Jesus. Discipleship is more than attending services or pursuing a private relationship with God; we are also one body, called to encourage, support and take responsibility for one another. Members commit to follow Jesus in every area of life, to orientate their lives around being with Jesus, learning from Jesus and becoming like Jesus, and to participate in the worship and life of the church. This includes gathering regularly on Sundays, sharing in communion, praying for the church family, serving others, giving where possible, growing through Scripture and prayer, and making every effort to attend our four church members’ meetings each year.
In return, the church commits to walk with its members through both the joys and difficulties of life, providing prayer, biblical teaching, pastoral care and encouragement. Membership is open to those who have a personal faith in Jesus, have been baptised and consider Counterslip their home church. Anyone interested should speak to the pastor or an elder, who will meet with them before recommending them to a church members’ meeting. Together, the members seek to discern God’s guidance and share responsibility for significant decisions, including leadership appointments, finances and the future direction of the church. None of us has completed the journey; the joy of membership is that we covenant to keep walking towards Jesus together.
Serving & Mission
Church is not simply an event we attend, but a body and family to which we belong, with each person having a part to play. Jesus Himself came to serve, and we want to follow His example by loving and serving one another. For us, serving is part of learning from Jesus: like apprentices, we grow by putting His ways into practice and allowing the Holy Spirit to shape us through them. We are not simply looking for people to fill gaps on rotas; we encourage each person to serve where they sense Jesus leading them and where their gifts can help the church flourish. Opportunities include welcome, refreshments, worship, communion, PA, projection, children’s and youth ministry, setup, prayer ministry, mentoring, evangelism and the prophetic group. We normally encourage newcomers to spend their first six months getting to know the church before joining a team, and appropriate training, safeguarding checks and support are provided where required.
Mission is discipleship lived out—the everyday expression of following Jesus and making Him known through our words, actions and character. As we spend time with Jesus and learn from Him, the Holy Spirit forms His fruit in us so that His love overflows into our homes, workplaces, neighbourhoods and relationships. The church community is one of the places where we first learn to practise this love, so that we can carry it wherever God sends us. We also serve alongside the local foodbank and support mission partners, including through BMS, with opportunities to pray, give and become involved. Anyone wanting to explore their gifts or find a place to serve can speak with a team leader, an elder or the pastor, or book a conversation at www.counterslip.org/mattcaddick.
Children, Young people & Families
Children and young people are not simply the church of the future; they are a valued and active part of our church family today. Our vision is the same for every generation: that each person would be with Jesus, learn from Jesus and become like Jesus. We all begin Sunday worship together, before children and young people leave for age-appropriate groups during the teaching. The Parents and Toddlers room provides space for children below school age, Children’s Church is for primary-aged children, and Youth Church is for those at secondary school. Each group follows the same Bible passages as the wider church, using a mixture of teaching, discussion, games, craft, media and worship. Children and young people will often rejoin the rest of the church for worship towards the end of the service.
We encourage children and young people to participate fully in church life through worship, prayer, communion and serving on teams. During the week, young people can attend a term-time home group on Wednesday evenings, and our Family Home Group provides a space where people of all ages can grow together. Our children’s and youth teams are warm, welcoming and committed to creating an inclusive environment, including using resources to support those with additional needs and working with parents to understand how best to help each child. The ministries are overseen by our Children’s and Youth Pastoral Assistants, and all team members follow our safer-recruitment procedures, including appropriate training and DBS checks. Current details are available on our website or from the ministry teams.
Home Groups
Home groups are smaller gatherings of around six to twelve people who meet each week in members’ homes. Many meet on Tuesday evenings at 7:30pm, although other days and times are available, including an online group for those unable to attend in person. Meetings are relaxed and usually begin with refreshments and time to catch up before the group reads the Bible together, shares thoughts, asks questions and finishes by praying for one another. Home groups are open to everyone, and anyone interested in joining can speak to the pastor or one of the elders.
Home groups are one of the main ways we grow as followers of Jesus. Just as Jesus shared life with a smaller group of disciples, these gatherings give us space to know one another and be known, to share life, explore our gifts and encourage one another in faith. Rather than following a formal study, we simply read Scripture and invite everyone to share what has inspired, challenged or puzzled them. As we listen to one another, we learn to recognise how the Holy Spirit may be speaking to us and through us, helping us grow not only in our knowledge of the Bible, but in our relationship with Jesus. Each group has a host who opens their home, but responsibility for sharing, encouraging and praying belongs to the whole group.
Pastoral Care
Pastoral care is something we all share as we love, encourage and journey with one another. Home groups are an important part of this, providing regular relationships in which people can share what they are facing and receive prayer and support. Our pastoral team—made up of the pastor, elders, Family Deacon and care team—is also available to listen, pray and offer practical or pastoral support through both the joys and difficulties of life. We also offer mentoring for those who would value meeting regularly with someone to encourage them in their walk with Jesus. To find out more about mentoring, email emily.caddick@counterslip.org.
Our primary aim is to help people walk with Jesus through whatever they are facing, learning to seek Him, trust Him and place their hope in Him. While our leaders can offer prayer, listening, practical help, hospital visits and bereavement or crisis support, they are not always trained counsellors, medical professionals or financial advisers, and may encourage someone to seek appropriate specialist help. You can speak with the pastor or an elder on a Sunday, arrange a meeting with the pastor at www.counterslip.org/mattcaddick, or call 07710 434 738. Our Family Care Fund may also provide one-off financial support to regular attendees facing difficult circumstances; for more information, contact David Self at david@counterslip.org.
Leadership
Leadership at Counterslip is first and foremost an act of service. Following the example of Jesus, our leaders are not a separate spiritual class but brothers and sisters called to serve Christ, equip His people and help the whole church flourish. The pastor provides overall leadership and works as the lead elder, with responsibility for the church’s spiritual direction, pastoral care, discipleship, biblical teaching, vision and Sunday gatherings. The elders work alongside the pastor, sharing responsibility for the spiritual and discipleship life of the church. Deacons oversee practical areas of church life, while our pastoral assistants lead our children’s and youth ministries. Elders and deacons also carry trustee responsibilities for the church’s governance, finances, organisation and legal obligations.
We believe in the Baptist principle of the priesthood of all believers: every follower of Jesus is equal before God and is gifted by the Holy Spirit to serve Him and His Church. Following prayerful study of Scripture together, we affirm both women and men in every area of church leadership, believing that in Christ the divisions created by sin are overcome and that we are all one in Him. Elders and deacons are appointed by church members for three-year terms, as the church seeks to recognise God’s calling on them. Leaders make many day-to-day decisions under the authority delegated to them by the church, while major matters are brought to the members for prayer, discussion and a vote. Our constitution, policies and an up-to-date list of leaders are available on the church website.
Being a Baptist Church
Our primary identity is not in a denomination, but as followers of Jesus and members of His worldwide Church. Being Baptist describes some of the convictions that shape how we follow Him together. We believe Jesus is the head of the Church, Scripture is our trustworthy and authoritative guide, and every believer is part of a royal priesthood with equal access to God and gifts to use in His service. We practise believers’ baptism because we understand baptism to be a personal response of faith and obedience to Jesus. Baptist churches can vary considerably in style and practice, but at the heart of our Baptist identity is a shared desire to live under the authority of Christ and in line with His Word.
This also shapes how we make decisions. Our church members meet together to pray, listen to Scripture, discuss and seek to discern the mind of Christ, including when considering practical or financial matters. Every member has an equal voice, while the pastor, elders and deacons exercise the authority entrusted to them by the church in accordance with Scripture and our constitution. We are not an isolated or entirely independent church, but an interdependent one: part of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the West of England Baptist Network and the Evangelical Alliance. Like members of a grown-up family living in different places, we seek to give and receive encouragement, support and accountability, while also working and praying with other local churches as part of the one body of Christ.
Giving
Financial giving is one of the ways we worship God, express our gratitude and share responsibility for the life and mission of the church. We do not teach that Christians must give a fixed percentage, but we do encourage free, willing and joyful generosity. The biblical idea of giving our “firstfruits” reminds us that God comes first, and that giving is something we prayerfully consider rather than simply what is left over. Like every area of discipleship, generosity is something in which we grow as we learn to trust Jesus and place every part of our lives under His leadership.
Counterslip does not receive outside funding, so the church’s ministry—including staff, Sunday gatherings, children’s and youth work, pastoral care, mission and practical running costs—is supported by the generosity of those who are part of the church family. Visitors should never feel pressured to give, and giving is not a condition of belonging. We recognise that financial circumstances vary, and Scripture encourages each person to decide prayerfully and joyfully what they are able to give. Those experiencing financial hardship are encouraged to speak with us, as our Family Care Fund may be able to offer support. Giving can be made by standing order, bank transfer, contactless payment at the welcome desk, or cash during the service, and eligible taxpayers can also increase their gift through Gift Aid.
Safeguarding
We are committed to making Counterslip a safe place for children, young people, adults at risk and everyone who takes part in church life. We use safer-recruitment procedures, appropriate DBS checks, safeguarding training and clear policies and reporting processes. Our safeguarding policy is available on the church website. Any safeguarding concern should be reported to our safeguarding leads, Ben Curtis and Ann-See Yeoh, at safeguarding@counterslip.org. If a concern relates to a church leader, it can be reported directly to the safeguarding leads at Counterslip or to the safeguarding lead for the West of England Baptist Network.
Your Next Steps
When you are new to Counterslip, the first step is simply to take your time. Join us on Sundays, talk with people over coffee and allow yourself space to get to know who we are and whether Counterslip feels like home. You can introduce yourself to our welcome team, pastor or elders, complete the “I’m New” form on our website, or book a conversation with the pastor where you are welcome to ask any questions. Twice a year, we also hold a newcomers’ lunch where you can meet some of our leaders and hear more about our vision, beliefs and life together.
Joining a home group is one of the best ways to form relationships and grow with others, while serving on a team can help you become connected and play your part in church life. After around six months, we would encourage you to consider whether membership might be your next step, although anyone wanting to explore baptism can speak with the pastor at any time. You can also ask about prayer, pastoral support, mentoring or access to ChurchSuite. Wherever you are beginning and whatever you currently believe, you are welcome to journey with us. We want to walk with anyone who wants to walk towards Jesus, regardless of where they are or what they may be standing in right now.
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Contact & Practical information
Join Us on Sunday
Counterslip Baptist Church
Oasis John Williams Academy
Petherton Road
Bristol
BS14 9BU
Our Sunday gathering begins at 10:30am, with tea and coffee served from 10am. There is plenty of free parking in the school car park. The site is accessible, with step-free access and disabled toilets. Buses regularly run along Wells Road, a short walk from Petherton Road.
Contact Us
Website: www.counterslip.org
Church office: office@counterslip.org
Telephone: 0117 370 1188
New to Counterslip? Select the “I’m New” button at the top of our website homepage to introduce yourself and find out more.
For access to ChurchSuite, or for help updating your contact details, please contact the church office.
Contact the Pastor
Matt Caddick
Email: matt@counterslip.org
Telephone: 07710 434 738
Book a meeting: www.counterslip.org/mattcaddick
Safeguarding
Safeguarding concerns can be shared confidentially with our safeguarding leads at:
Follow Counterslip Online
Instagram: www.instagram.com/counterslipbaptistchurch
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@counterslipchurch
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Counterslip