Our Story

Andrew and Betsy de Thierry felt the call of God to move to Bath and start a new Church specifically to draw in those who don't know Jesus, those who have walked away from Jesus and/or Church, and to see God grow a healthy & strong Church. After praying & waiting, God brought about the beginnings of the Church in one week, when six different people who didn't know each other all rang up to find out if a new Church may be starting in Bath.

The de Thierry's moved to Bath in September 1998, and this group of people got together and became a small group, meeting every week. We held our first public meeting on Thursday 14th January 1999, in the clubhouse of the Bath Rugby Club & continued to meet there on alternate Thursdays for much of the year.

As the result of steady growth, it was decided that the Church should start Sunday meetings from January 2000. Initially we met on Sunday afternoons in Claverton Down, but by March 2000 we had moved to Hayesfield Lower School in Oldfield Park & we began meeting on Sunday mornings instead. From September 2000, the Church grew rapidly to having many diverse small groups meeting mid week, along with exciting & flourishing children's & youth groups catering for ages 0-18 years.

We bought a building in 2005 which housed our offices, a large meeting room, art studio, an outdoor decking area, and room for all our community projects. We were based in this centre on Roseberry Road until July 2011 when we moved into Freedom House. This building on Lower Bristol Road has been renovated and is now home to our offices, youth rooms, an art studio, and kids rooms which also serve the Trauma Recovery Centre (TRC). We are working towards building an auditorium onto this building.

We have strong friendships with other church leaders in the local area, the UK and overseas. We have been part of the Hillsong and Abundant Life networks for many years and appreciate their support.

We are Freedom, and we can't wait to see what God has planned for us as He builds His Church.