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August 2025 NEWFOUNDLAKELIFE.COM Page 5 Community
Bristol Baptist Church Restoration and Renewal
The Bristol Baptist Church is an Historical Spiritual Master- piece. The current church body has a strong commitment to help build and grow on its biblical spiritual heritage and foundation. The church was first organized in 1848 and its mission continues to this day. The church, located close to the center of town, is a place of Christian worship for several towns surrounding Bris- tol. People flocked to the church every Sunday. Many generations of families and children grew up in this church and countless lives were touched through its services and programs. Our church fam- ily believes the light of the past will continue to ignite the future growth of the church.
Our church has faced many challenges and opportunities from the beginning of its history. The church building was built in 1850 on a tiny piece of land given to the church with bound- aries where the water dripped from the eaves of the church. The exact measurement of the church was 40 x 48 square feet. The church had no land. Our parsonage at this time was on High St.
The Dr. Coolidge House, which abutted the church, be- came available for sale. It pro- vided an abutting parsonage as well as providing all the land sur- rounding it for a parki driveways. With God’s leading, and provi- sion, it was purchased and the High Street parsonage was sold.
Through the years the church parsonage had served its purpose beautifully, but aging made it im- possible to repair.
Many avenues were ap- proached for financing as well as fund raising through many years. The church members were pray- ing for guidance on selling or re- moving the parsonage. The town selectmen, at the same time, were looking for needed municipal parking spaces.
Now, a new beginning.
Isaiah 43:19 “I AM about to do something new”
God’s plan and timing had arrived. Through all our prayers, keeping the faith, the plan to benefit “all” had arrived, and was discussed.
There was a need for munic- ipal parking, and taking care of
safety issues. Traffic concerns for church driveways and the elderly housing driveway, and crosswalks and sidewalk were major con- cerns, and the opening up of the view of the Bristol Town Square and church.
Meetings were held and the selectmen were in agreement.
The church held meetings and prayer and were also in agreement.
The selectmen presented the plan to purchase the parsonage and remove it. They will be using some of the area for green space, municipal parking lot with some church reservations. Driveways will be made safer.
The Article was presented as a Warrant Article in the Town Re- port and at the March 12, 2024 Bristol Town Meeting.
It had been acknowledged: it met the reasons for removal, and including, safety issues, visibility, without the view blocked by the parsonage, for cross walks, side walks, driveways of the church and elderly housing. It exposes the church to the square, and ful- fills the town’s need for municipal parking, with some church reser- vations. The legal papers for the completion of the sale and pur- chase have now been completed and signed on July 2, 2025.
Circumstances challenged Bristol Baptist Church through the years, but the church family were strengthened and guided by God given perseverance, always with faith, seeking God, and His presence, never giving up.
Our last challenge was the vehicle, because of the driver’s medical condition, shooting from School St., across Summer St., plowing into the front of the Bris- tol Baptist Church, in October of 2024. It caused severe damage outside and inside the sanctuary and in the vestry downstairs, clos- ing the church sanctuary from
October of 2024 to July of 2025. That was a miracle of God that not another vehicle or per- son was involved in that tragic
accident, thankfully.
We thank the Masons who
allowed us to meet for well over a month for church services in their hall. We also thank the UCC Church for graciously al- lowing us to hold our “Christmas in Song Program” in their Fel- lowship Hall.
The weather vane still needs to be returned to the repaired steeple. It should be completed, God willing, by the printing of this article.
After our minister retired in February of 2024, our diacon- ate planned to hire pulpit supply weekly, with 6 rotating ministers. A year passed and three had other commitments, and three remained. One minister recom- mended we hire a minister for continuity, the other one recom- mended we hire a younger min- ister for continuity.
The third was a young Minis- ter, Reverend John Bascom, with a focus on:
GUIDED BY THE SCRIPTURES
CENTERED ON JESUS EMPOWERED BY THE
HOLY SPIRIT
On fire with sermons that will
change your lives and future. Reverend John Bascom, grew up in New Hampton, attending Newfound Schools, journeyed to the Ministry, Ordained, has a passion for Missions, and com- munity needs, physically and Spiritually. Wife Leena has a passion for prayer. Pastor John is the son of Rodney and Elizabeth Blood Bascom. He is the grand- son of Larry and Patricia Blood of New Hampton, who were very active in New Hampton
Community Church.
The diaconate, (pastoral
committee) called an informal meeting with the church board, diaconate and the congregation, to meet with Reverend John and Leena.
God had already planted the seed as they felt led by God to Bristol Baptist Church. We all felt the same and were so thank- ful to realize this could happen.
We scheduled a special meet- ing for voting Reverend John Bascom to be our pastor at Bris- tol Baptist Church, and it was voted March 30, 2025 unani- mously, affirmatively. God has truly blessed us with Pastor John
Bascom, and his wife Leena.
On Saturday, September 13, 2025, we will have an official in- stallation service in our sanctuary at Bristol Baptist Church at 30
Summer Street at 3:00 p.m. Light refreshments will be served in the vestry following.
Please put this on your calendar as you are invited to come and meet Pastor John Bascom and his wife Leena and welcome them to the community and our church.
Pastor John and Leena’s ac- ceptance of the church and its circumstances and their love and devotion is truly a blessing from God.
You will truly be blessed. Your mission and your journey could change your focus and your fu- ture. If you have no other church connection, we invite you to come. Our service is at 10:00 a.m. Sunday morning. There is always a chance for prayer needs after the service.
Communion Sunday, the first Sunday of the month, is followed at the end of the service with a pot luck lunch for gathering, so- cially and Spiritually, becoming a closer, caring church family.
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