The second oldest congregation of the WCG in the UK is that of Bristol, which formally came into being with the baptism of seven people on August 31st 1958. 

The baptisms were by Raymond McNair and George Meeker who were staying at the Grand Hotel, Bristol, and used their bathroom for the occasion. 

One of those baptised was Joan Millman who still attends the Bristol Church. 

The next year two more were baptised; this time by Ernest Martin in a lake called Abbot’s Pool, outside London. 

The two were Evelyn Thompson, who attended regularly until her death about 3 years ago, and Gerald Peters, who still attends.  That year Garner Ted Armstrong visited Bristol, accompanied by Raymond McNair and Ernest Martin, and by September 1959 the Bristol WCG were enjoying regular Sabbath services in the Colston room of the Grand Hotel. 

A few people from far-a-field also began to attend, including Mr and Mrs John Jewel, from Saltash near Plymouth.

June 20th saw the start of an evangelistic campaign which was held in the Bristol YMCA hall by Roderick Meredith, assisted by Ernest Martin in the role of song-leader.

 About 100 people attended the first night in response to a newspaper advertisement. 

The campaign continued for 5 nights a week for 5 weeks, which shows the enthusiasm of these young ministers.  After the campaign the Sabbath services were switched to the Windsor room in the Grand Hotel, pastored by Ernest Martin. 

The campaign appears to have been very successful in attracting new members to the Bristol Church, which by then averaged 40 attendees.  Attendance continued to grow, and after another campaign by Richard Plache in the mid 1970’s it averaged over 100. 

As many members were coming from far-a-field, the Church began to set up new congregations in the areas that some members lived. 

Thus the Gloucester Church was formed, then Llanelli, Tiverton, Plymouth, and Cardiff. 

By 1990, Bristol and its satellite churches numbered well over 300 attendees.  However, because of changes in doctrine in the mid 1990’s the numbers have now declined to about a third, and a couple of the satellites no longer exist - Gloucester has merged with Birmingham, and Tiverton has moved to Exeter. 

Many venues for Bristol Church services have also been used through the years, such as school halls, theatres, hotels, village halls, church halls, etc; currently we meet in the Filton Folk Centre.  

Over the years Bristol has had many pastors: among others, these included Charles Hunting, George Lee, Bruce Kent, David Bedford, David House, John Meakin, and Tony Lodge.

Henry Miles