of the pastor began to deteriorate and the Hanham Baptists were becoming restless. They sent a
letter to Keynsham which read:
For a long time past every prospect appears to be given up respecting our dear Pastor ever being
so far restored as to labour amongst us. At our last Church Meeting held on July 16th it was our
unanimous conclusion that a separation between our Churches ought to take place.
They went on to point out that over the previous thirty years no less than eight churches and chapels
of various denominations had been erected in the parish, each of which had morning and evening
services where they had to be content with an afternoon service. The church at Keynsham readily
agreed and less than two months later, on 6 th September 1850, thirty-five persons were dismissed
to form a separate fellowship at Hanham. Sixty-five members remained at Keynsham.
Following the separation, Hanham called its first pastor in 1851, the Rev John Newth who was
succeeded in 1859 by Mr Thomas Bowbeer and Mr H Medway, who were co-pastors after the Order
of the Itinerant Society.
The church continued to meet in the Old Chapel.
The history of the Old Chapel:
1690
Site purchased following the Act of Toleration 1689.
1714
The Meeting House [Old Baptist Chapel] was erected.
1721
The graveyard opened.
1802
The meeting House was enlarged with a brick wall being constructed
at the east end and inside a large platform was built behind the
pulpit. At the west end of the chapel a second floor, almost like a
balcony was built. It could be screened off.
1825
1868
Fourteen feet was added to the front of the graveyard by purchase
from the roadside common.
Small square windows were replaced by long ones.
1871
Land for lean-to vestries was given by Mr Palmer, JP.
1872
Lean-to buildings were added.
1907
After the completion of the Church [the New Chapel] in 1907 the
building was used mainly as a meeting room for the Sunday School,
mid-week activities and social events, such as Harvest Suppers.
1924
Lean-to building for kitchen and toilets were added. One lean-to
building was used as a men's bible class base on Sundays.
1924
The Old Chapel was entirely renovated by voluntary labour, the cost
of the materials being met by gifts from members of the church.
1935
The graveyard was closed.