Woodstock Road Baptist Church facts for kids

Woodstock Road Baptist Church is a Christian church found in Summertown, Oxford, UK. It's a type of church called an evangelical church, which means its members believe strongly in the Bible. It's also part of a group called the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches.

The Church's Story

The Woodstock Road Baptist Church first opened its doors in 1897. Before the building was ready, a group of people met outdoors for worship, led by Rev J. H. Moore. Worship means showing love and respect to God.

The church was built on Woodstock Road, close to the new homes in Summertown. The first building was called Victoria Hall. This name honored Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, which was a big celebration of her 60 years as queen.

The original building was made of white brick with stone parts. It could hold about 100 people. One wall of the church was made of wood. This was a smart idea! It meant they could easily make the church bigger later if more people started coming.

Growing Over Time

The church did get bigger in the 1930s. They added a simple 'hut' with brick walls and a tin roof. Later, this hut was improved with a more permanent roof. Now, the church can seat around 200 people.

For many years, the church was part of the Baptist Union. But in the 1980s, the church decided to become independent. This happened because they had different ideas about some church beliefs, also known as doctrine. Woodstock Road Baptist Church, sometimes called WRBC or Woody Road by its members, focuses on believing and teaching from the Bible.

Recent Updates

The church building has had some renovations to make it better. It was closed for a few months from September to December in 2012. Then, it closed again from September 2013 to April 2014 for more work. The church officially reopened on April 2, 2014.

What the Church Does

Church services happen every Sunday. The main gathering is in the morning at 10:30 AM. You can also watch this service online at Church Services.

Usually, after the morning service, everyone shares a lunch together. Then, there's a second, smaller meeting in the afternoon at 1:30 PM. This afternoon gathering is more relaxed and informal.

Small Groups and Prayer

During the week, people from the church meet in smaller groups called homegroups. These groups meet on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in different places around the city.

Once a month, on the first Thursday evening, the whole church comes together to pray. This is a special time for everyone to pray together.

What the Church Believes

If you want to learn more about what Woodstock Road Baptist Church believes, you can find all the details on their website. They have a section dedicated to their beliefs at Doctrine and Beliefs.