Our History Timeline
1821 - The church originated this year, from a few members in Melksham meeting in a private house. This soon proved too small for the numbers that met there, so a place which was formerly a bake house belonging to John Webb and would accommodate about one hundred persons was rented and John Warburton, who had settled at Trowbridge, was asked to open it. Again this bakehouse soon proved too small and so a move was made to more spacious accommodation in Watson's Court off the High Street.
1835 - The present chapel, Ebenezer, was built, although the original Trust Deed has been lost. There is a bill dated 1835 for "Wall stones and Carriage" to Zion Chapel "to be used for the boundary wall".
1851 - One bill dated this year would indicate that a pulpit was erected.
1853 - A Sunday School was added and an open-air baptistry was built in the graveyard at the rear of the chapel and was so constructed that it could be filled up from Clacker's Brook which runs at the bottom of the chapel property. Unfortunately, no record of the history of the present chapel can be found; indicating that either over the years it has been mislaid or that records of Church Meetings were not kept.
Although as stated, no records of the early church are available it is interesting to note that the bills for building the chapel and for repairs and alterations have been preserved and it would indicate that although the builder's stone indicates the name 'Ebenezer', the chapel was often referred to as 'Zion' which was the name of the General Baptist Chapel from which the split was made.
The first bill is as follows:
Melksham New Meeting
To Jeffard Head & Co.
March 24 to April 4 15 cart load Dry Wallstones
March 24 to April 28 136 cart load Best Wallstones
Another dated 24th April is for "roofing 'New Zion' Chapel at Melksham with the best Countess Slates" and to "lath and plaster the ceiling and walls. To execute in a work-man like manner for the sum of Twenty three pounds and Ten shillings".
1874 - It would appear that the Chapel was completely refitted with seats for a total cost of £4. 17. 3d. A further bill refers to "work to the gallery and fixing a new pulpit" indicating that there was in all probability a gallery at the rear of the chapel although no sign of this exists now.
1974 - A Sunday School was commenced with a total of ten pupils, five of them being from families other than those attending the chapel.
1984 - marked the tenth anniversary of the Sunday school and it is worth noting that, during that time sixty young people had passed through the school.
1994 - A baptistry was installed inside the church building.
1995 - Mr. C. J. Buss was called to the pastorate and during the 10 years he was here the congregation and membership grew to God's glory. During this time, a nearby cottage, 49 Union Street, SN12 7PR, was purchased and converted for church use.
2007 - Mr. Marc Thomas took the pastoral oversight until 2009.
2009 - Without a pastor, the church engaged good reformed evangelical ministry each Sunday with ministers coming from a wide area.
2012 - The church called Mr. Alan Gilmore, Trinity Church, Gloucester, as a leading Elder to minister and work with the church. Congregation numbers are around 40 people with a wide age range at this time.
2014 - The church welcomed James Alsop, Bradford on Avon as our pastor. He remains as such to the present day and brings an enthusiastic Gospel approach to our Worship and how we should show love and care for those in our community.
2016 - English Standard Version (ESV) introduced as the church bible, replacing the New King James Version (NKJV).
2021 - Central heating fitted to replace the old system that had been in place for many years.
2022 - Church interior decorated and new website launched.
2023 - The internal porch was removed and replaced with swing doors creating a more open and welcoming entrance. WiFi installed.
2025 - Ebenezer Union Street Baptist Church becomes a Registered Charity (1212026) and a Charitable Incorporated Organisation.
