Worcester Baptist Church is one of the oldest Baptist Churches in the area. It was founded in 1658 during the rule of Oliver Cromwell when 18 men and 21 women came together and appointed a pastor to lead them. When state control over religion was re-established after Charles II came to the throne, the Baptists suffered persecution, but weathered the storms and knew more peaceful times in the 18th Century when they built a meeting house in Silver Street (now the Elim Church in Lowesmoor).
Growing numbers, and the generosity of a benefactor, enabled the congregation to move to this new site on Sansome Walk in 1864, next to an Arboretum and Pleasure Gardens. The arboretum was soon sold for housing, and the new church became the centre of a thriving community. Throughout the late 19th century the church expanded to build chapels, which were established at Kempsey, Rainbow Hill, Red Hill and Fernhill Heath.
PLAN AND EXTERIOR: 5-bay nave with galleried transepts and single-bay chancel and organ galleries above vestries, 2-stage south-west tower over porch. Off-set buttresses to east and west ends. Entrances to west end: double glazed doors in pointed-arched surround; to aisles at either side are pointed plank doors with single cusped light over; quatrefoil in gable. 5-light west window with Decorated-type tracery. Aisles have mainly 2-cusped-light windows with quatrefoils to heads and transoms. Transepts have two single-light windows to lower stage and 4-light windows to upper stage. The east end has two single lights and rose window to apex. Tower has battered sides to lower stage and quatrefoil window; and pair of belfry openings with Decorated-type tracery to each side of upper stage. Octagonal spire with bands of ornament. All openings have double-chamfered surrounds with hoodmoulds and arch over of alternate dressed and undressed voussoirs; hoodmoulds to west end have face stops.
INTERIOR: aisles have slender cast-iron pilasters with foliate caps and pointed-arched timber arcade. Central pulpit to east end. Organ loft to east and galleries to west and to transepts have blind arcades to balustrades. Roof is ribbed and panelled.
HISTORICAL NOTE: to the east end a foundation stone bears the inscription: 'This stone was laid by Mrs E B Evans of Whitbourne Hall July 28 1863'.
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