Sunday 10:30am
with Youth & children's church

We do not hold our usual worship service on the 5th Sunday of a month. For more info see "5th Sundays" below.

What's it all about?
We believe that gathering together as believers in Jesus to worship Him is so key to what it means for us to be church.
We are first and foremost all about Jesus.
Worship, while being so many things, is primarily about declaring Him as King and positioning our hearts and lives humbly before Him. What's amazing about this is that as we honour Him, submit to Him, glorify Him, and surrender to Him, we actually find ourselves caught up by His grace in His love, where there is freedom, hope, forgiveness, healing and so much more.
This is simply because when we declare Him as King, He comes into our lives as our King establishing His rule and reign in our hearts and bringing His kingdom, the kingdom of Heaven, the kingdom of goodness, the kingdom of life.
Worship is all about Jesus, but the mystery is that He is a God who is all about love. He's so good. The bible says He is overflowing with goodness and faithfulness. And this is what draws us to worship Jesus.

Missed a Sunday message, or the Bible Q&A, or just want to listen again?

No problem click the button to go to our podcast

We're reading the bible together over two years

As a church we are seeking to be disciples of Jesus, those who are together being with Jesus, learning from Jesus and becoming like Jesus. One way that we can discover more of what Jesus is like and learn from Him is by reading the bible.

If you journey with us as a church you will get to read the whole bible every two years, that looks like roughly two chapters a day, that's just one in the morning and one in the evening.

We believe that reading the bible every day is an amazing thing to do, even when you read bits that make you go "eww, what is that about" and it leaves you a little confused. You see, reading the bible isn't about understanding everything, there's something even more amazing that happens when you read the bible. Every time you read it, whether you realise it or not, something of your heart shifts a little and starts to align with heaven and over time you start to notice that even the weird bits seem to start speaking to you. 
So give it a go. Get stuck in. Start to discover more of who Jesus is and see what starts to happen in your own life!

As we read the bible we all get questions, and that's ok. Why not pop your question in the black box at the back of church and then join us for an evening of talking about the questions we have.

4th Tuesday of every month.
7:30pm in the worship area.

We long to see God move in our church and in our city. So each month we gather together for praise (which builds our faith), prayer (where we call out to God for the things on our hearts) and prophecy (where we listen to Him)

2nd Tuesday of every month.
7:30pm in the back hall.

5th Sundays

About 4 times a year there is a month with a 5th Sunday in it. When that happens we don't have our usual worship services instead we have a Fellowship Sunday where we gather together for food and family fun.

5th Sunday of the month.
12:00 - 14:00

Home group

Everywhere he went Jesus took the 12 disciples with him. We see in scripture that small, authentic community, where you can share life, pray together and read, and talk about, the scriptures is essential for us to grow as followers of Jesus.

Tuesday nights. 7:30pm
Talk to an elder to join a group

Children

In Children's church we too are seeking to encourage each other to be with Jesus, learn from Jesus & to become like Him through stories, songs, games, crafts and other fun activities too.

Sunday 10:30am starting in the worship area

Youth

In Youth Church we like to keep things simple, we head out to the youth lounge for snacks and games, and then we open the bible, read a bit and just chat about what jumps out at us. Our aim is to have fun discovering Jesus together.

Sundays 10:30am starting in the worship area

Boys Brigade

BB meets on Monday evening here at Counterslip.

- Anchor Boys (5-7yo): 5-6pm
- Junior Boys (8-10yo): 7-8:30pm
- Senior Section (11-18): 7-9pm

Monday nights
5-9pm

Weekend Away

We're so excited to be planning our church weekend away for 14th - 16th October at Hebron Hall. For more details contact the office or download and print the booking form below.

14th - 16th October 2022

SO WE'RE A BAPTIST CHURCH. BUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

THE BAPTIST CHURCH STORY GOES BACK TO ABOUT 1609 WHEN A GROUP OF CHRISTIANS LEFT THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND FOLLOWING THE REFORMATION, AS THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE THE REFORMATION IN THE ANGLICAN CHURCH HAD GONE FAR ENOUGH.

​

BAPTIST'S GOT THEIR NAME BECAUSE THEY BAPTSTED ADULT BELIEVERS, RATHER THAN CHRISTENING BABIES. BUT THIS ISN'T WHAT DEFINES BAPTISTS. "BAPTISTS" WAS MORE OF A NICKNAME BECAUSE OF THE TYPE OF BAPTISM THEY DID. THE REASON THEY DID THAT KIND OF BAPTISM IS AT THE HEART OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A BAPTIST.

​

AT THE ROOT OF THEIR ACTIONS WAS A DEEP DESIRE TO LIVE LIFE IN LINE WITH THE SCRIPTURES.

BAPTISTS BELIEVED, AND STILL DO TODAY, IN THE AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE AND SEE THE BIBLE AS THE WORD OF GOD. YES IT WAS WRITTEN BY HUMAN BEINGS, BUT IT WAS WRITTEN UNDER THE INSPIRATION, GUIDANCE AND POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHO IS GOD, A PART OF THE HOLY TRINITY.

​

JESUS HIMSELF AFFIRMED THE SCRIPTURES, AND DESPITE WHAT YOU MIGHT HEAR IN MODERN CONVERSATION HE NEVER DISAGREED WITH THEM OR CHANGED THEM - THAT IS A MISCONCEPTION AND MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE TEXT. JESUS WENT EVEN FURTHER THAN THIS AND TOLD THE DISCIPLES THAT ALL THE SCRIPTURES WERE ABOUT HIM (LUKE 24:25-27). AND THIS IS WHY WE HAVE SUCH A HIGH VIEW OF JESUS, BECAUSE OF JUST HOW INCREDIBLE WE BELIEVE HE IS AS HE IS REVEALED IN ALL THE SCRIPTURES (OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT).

​

THE BIBLE FROM BEGINNING TO END POINTS US TO JESUS. THROUGH THE SCRIPTURES WE DISCOVER WHO JESUS IS, WHAT HE IS LIKE, WHAT HE CAME TO DO AND THE LIFE HE CAME TO GIVE US. WHAT WE DISCOVER IN THE SCRIPTURES IS NOTHING SHORT OF AMAZING. THAT IS WHY AS BAPTISTS WE LONG TO LIVE IN LINE WITH THE SCRIPTURES.
AND BECAUSE THE FOCUS OF THE WHOLE OF SCRIPTURE IS JESUS, OUR VISION AS A CHURCH IS:
TO BE WITH JESUS, LEARN FROM JESUS, AND BECOME LIKE JESUS.

AND THE PLACE WE DISCOVER AND UNDERSTAND JESUS FIRST AND FOREMOST IS IN THE HOLY SPIRIT INSPIRED SCRIPTURES, LIKE HE HIMSELF SHOWED HIS DISCIPLES.

​

AS BAPTISTS WE HAVE SOME STRANGE HABITS - DUNKING PEOPLE UNDER WATER AND CHURCH MEETINGS, AMONG OTHER THINGS, BUT AT THE HEART OF ALL OF THESE THINGS, AND THE REASON FOR ALL OF THESE THINGS, IS OUR DEEP DESIRE TO LIVE IN LINE WITH SCRIPTURE. WHATEVER WE FACE IN LIFE OUR PATTERN IS TO FIRST GO TO THE SCRIPTURES AND SEEK OUR GOD AS HE HAS REVEALED HIMSELF THROUGH HIS WORD.

THAT IS WHAT BEING A BAPTIST CHURCH IS ALL ABOUT.

The breath (Ruach) of God is blowing a fresh wind through us - His church. God is already pouring out His love, overwhelming love. Some are already feeling it, some will begin to feel the ripple effects in due course. 

God is revealing to us His holy nature by stripping back everything we once held on to so dearly, and He is calling us into true and humble identity in Him. There is a call upon the church to holiness, to acknowledge who God is, and submit to Him in all that we are and all that we do.

He is breathing life into us by His Spirit and is unifying us as one body. If God is for us, then who can be against us?

When we put our trust in the Lord we will be blessed, even when we don’t see anything happen, we can rely on Him. God has already torn down the strongholds and He is speaking through His prophets now, bringing the good news that the cleansing power of God is swift and easily accessed, and it is already available - now is the time! Today if you hear His voice do not harden your hearts in rebellion. Rather encourage one another daily and hold firmly to the confidence we once had. God is restoring to us what has been lost over 40 years of testing Him. This will draw some in, and cause some to pull away. He is calling us now to clear away the rubbish and walk in His Spirit. 

He is calling us now back to our first love; to worship Him alone. He demands reverence, holiness, a set-apart people - even in the face of pressure to bow down to other gods or false beliefs. By the Holy Spirit we will be able to withstand the heat and still remain spiritually healthy, and produce good fruit, so that the light of Jesus will reach people outside the church and light their way to Him.

This signifies a spiritual awakening in the church that will reach into the community and draw others into relationship with God and union with the Spirit. This will be established, not by grand gestures, or a big show, but by God’s people giving all that we have in submission to Him by His Spirit. God is preparing us to partner with a global awakening, where He will pour out His Spirit upon the nations in new and unexpected ways.

There is a call to stand on Holy Ground with Jesus at the centre. He will shape and sustain who we are, and who we will become. We will become a place where people can grow and be nurtured, and we will be fruitful. 

Counterslip - the Lord calls you courageous, respected, and a leader among the city’s churches. He declares over you that He has already granted you the victory through the precious blood of Jesus!

Zechariah 4:6 | Ezekiel 37:1-14 | Romans 8:31 | Hebrews 3:7-14 | Jeremiah 17:7-8 | John 11:11 | Exodus 3:5 | 2 Kings 5

Our Mission Partners

We're excited to be partnering with people all over the world, sharing the good news of Jesus and seeing people everywhere experiencing the love of God, as the gospel goes out in word and deed.

James & Virag

Missional Living - Hungary

James and Virag met and married in Bath, but have returned to live in the village in Hungary that Virag is originally from. There they have moved into the community to be a Christian presence and share the good news of Jesus with the people there through their lives. They have set up a community coffee shop (the only one in the village) and Virag has started working with families from disadvantaged backgrounds in a local playgroup/drop in centre. Their heart is to make disciples as they make relationships with the poeple in the village.

Helen & Wit

Church Plant - Thailand

Wit and Helen work as church planters among the largely unreached indigenous Thai Buddhist people group. In this exciting new BMS work, Wit and Helen help to plant churches and disciple local believers alongside Thai church planters. Wit is originally from Thailand and before starting with BMS was minister at Thrapston Baptist Church while Helen is a TEFL teacher. Together they have two grown-up children.

Tom & Melanie

Health Care - Chad

Melanie and Tom began serving in Chad in January 2020. Having worked as a GP in the UK, Tom is working as a doctor in the BMS-supported Guinebor II hospital, and holds a significant role within the leadership team of the hospital. As well as looking after their children, Melanie is working to address common issues such as child malnutrition and maternal health. Mel and Tom have two daughters, Maisie and Rosa, who go to an international school in N'djamena in Chad.

Counterslip Cares

Foodbank - Bristol, UK

The volunteers at Counterslip Cares food bank are seeking to share the love of God with those in food poverty by living out the call of Jesus to feed the poor and hungry. Week on week they provide food and guidance on financial issues, such as debt, for between 100-300 people.