Tiverton Baptist Church
Tiverton Baptist Church is one of the oldest Baptist churches in the country, established in 1607. It has occupied its current location for over 250 years and has a congregation of over 50 people from Tiverton and beyond.
The church is part of the Churches Together in Tiverton scheme and has links with other places of worship in the town. Sunday morning services start at 11:00am and most are recorded and can be watched on the church website. The church has a baby changing area and crèche.
The current building was built in 1876 by George Soudon Bridgman (1839-1925). The facade is a mix of Gothic Revival styles made from squared grey Westleigh stone rubble with dressings of Bath stone and details of red Paignton stone and cream brick. Bridgman was from Torquay and also designed Brixham Town Hall and the Victoria and Albert Hotel in Torquay.
Address
Tiverton Baptist Church, Newport Street, Tiverton, Devon EX16 6NH
Historic Categorisations and Statutes
Statutory Heritage Listing
Grade: II (Grade Two). This indicates the building is of "special interest, warranting every effort to preserve it."
List Entry Number: 1384864
Date First Listed: April 10, 2000
Significance: Protected as a prominent Victorian chapel designed by architect G.S. Bridgman of Torquay. It is noted for its distinctive "polychromatic" facade, using a striking mix of grey Westleigh stone, Bath stone dressings, and reddish Paignton stone.
Local Designations
Foundational Heritage: The church site is of immense local historical importance as the home of one of the oldest Baptist congregations in the UK, with a history in Tiverton dating back to 1607.
Conservation Area: The building and its original front area walls are key contributors to the Tiverton Conservation Area, specifically enhancing the Victorian character of Newport Street.
Site Components & Heritage Records
Main Chapel (1876): The current 2-story building featuring a large round-arched window with multi-coloured voussoirs and carved spandrels.
Front Area Walls & Gate Piers: The listing specifically includes the stone walls and three pairs of stone gate piers that define the church's entrance.
Inscribed Tablets: Two memorial stones are set into the wall; one commemorates the 1876 foundation, while the other notes the previous 1730 chapel that stood on the same site.
Historic Environment Record (HER): It is indexed in the Devon & Dartmoor HER under ID MDV11451.
Chronology of Historic Uses
1607: Congregation founded by Nonconformists (the "Old Meeting").
1687: The first dedicated Baptist chapel was built on this site.
1730: A replacement chapel was constructed to accommodate a growing congregation.
1876: The current building was constructed to the designs of G.S. Bridgman, opened with memorial stones laid by J. Lane Esq.
Current/Recent: An active evangelical Baptist church, celebrating over 400 years of continuous history in the town.
Useful Links
Tiverton Baptist Church (Opens in new window) The website offers visitors the following:
Worship Services: Details for Sunday morning worship, evening praise services (typically 1st Sundays), and recordings of past services for online viewing.
Children & Youth Groups
Adult Social Activities
Prayer & Study
History & Heritage: Insights into the church’s 400-year history as one of the oldest Baptist congregations in the country, including its roots with 17th-century Nonconformists.
Events Calendar: A live "Upcoming Events" schedule to help visitors track weekly meetings, special services, and community activities.
Community Partnerships
Facebook: Tiverton Baptist Church (Opens in new window) Serves as a community-focused platform providing visitors with real-time updates on church life, weekly service reminders, and live-streamed worship content. It offers a visual look at the church's various ministries while sharing encouraging reflections, prayer requests, and announcements for local outreach events. Through photos and interactive posts, the page highlights the church's active social calendar and provides an accessible space for both members and visitors to stay connected with the congregation's daily activities.
