It is generally thought that Sindlesham Baptist Church began to meet in 1828, planted by a group of believers from the Milton Road Baptist church in the centre of town – Sindlesham at that time would have been a rural village a couple of miles north of Wokingham on the Reading road.

Times change and now Sindlesham and Winnersh comprise a substantial residential area approaching 10,000 population with new development continuing. It is bordered by Lower Earley and the Woosehill area of Wokingham, with Arborfield, another area scheduled for development, a short way south-west.

The original church planters would find a vastly different culture to their formal way or worship, with songs and videos projected, casual-but-smart dress and hardly a tie to be seen (and not hats!). Music is contemporary, usually led by a church band of guitars, keyboard and vocalists and the preaching and prayers address here-and-now issues.

One thing they would look for, and find, is a reliance on the word of God in all matters of church life and discipling. Members have a familiarity with the Bible, probably read it daily and use it for worship and following the preacher’s line of argument.

They would look for, and find, a baptistry or small pool – it’s concealed by the platform – which can be filled with water for the believer’s baptism which involves complete, if momentary, immersion. This symbolises the dying to the old life, the washing and cleansing from sin that the encounter with Jesus brings, and rising up again as a new spiritual creation into a new life as a disciple. Generally people have taken those decisions before they ask to be baptised, but there is real power in the public declaration and action. This practice is the model found in the Bible, which is why we uphold it, together with many other newer denominations and streams which take the Bible examples as their guide to church life and practice. However the first Baptist church in England is said to date from 1609, started in London by one John Smyth and there are several in Berkshire which date from the mid-1600s.

After Rev Steven Payne left in 2007 the church has been through a period of transition and rediscovery of its vision and its values, facilitated by Rev Ian Greig as its interim minister.

The church has now called a part-time Pastor and Team Leader, Rev Calvin Julian-Jones, who is heading up its leadership team and helping discover the next chapter of God’s plan.