2025-26 Extension

West Row

Baptist Church

2025-26 Extension

Project Overview

For nearly two decades, West Row Baptist Church and its members planned an extension to provide improved facilities and additional space for meetings and ministry.

God graciously provided, with a significant portion of the funds already raised and set aside for the project. The original design proposed a full-length single-storey extension along the east side of the building. However, in light of overall funding considerations, the plans were scaled back, and Phase 1 was agreed upon.

Funding Support

The whole fellowship of West Row Baptist Church are thankful to the following trusts who provided us with grants to support our Church extension project: -

The Andrew Anderson Trust - £30,000

The Newton and Norwood Settlement - £25,000

Garfield Western Foundation - £12,000

The Beatrice Laing Trust - £4,000

The Belstead Ganzoni Charitable Settlement - £3,000

Tudwick Foundation - £3,000

The Sabina Sutherland Charitable Trust - £1,000

Changing Face of West Row Baptist Church

The front of the Church has changed over the years, each stage marking something of the God’s ongoing work among His people here. Going back into times past, the original foundation stone was laid by Brother Leonard Ellington on 16^th June 1814, with the opening ceremony 22^nd March 1815.

In a book written by J. Duncan in 1965 called 'The History of West Row (Mildenhall) Baptist Chapel', within the introduction he wrote "According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon."

In 2025, the Church membership became the most recent body of believers to further "buildeth" and continue the sharing of the gospel message into West Row and the surrounding communities.

Extension Design

The new front extension is multi-purpose. The three main aspects being delivered as a part of Phase 1 are: -

1) A bright, spacious entrance area providing a welcoming open space as you first come into the Church building.

2) A new toilet block is to the left of the entrance, incorporating modern facilities, much improved from the existing ones off of the back schoolroom, a dedicated disabled/baby changing room included.

3) Through separate doors to the right of the entrance lobby, an open space providing multi-purpose use, nursery, meeting areas and general ministry use.

Photo Catalogue of the Build

The pictures below, show the month by month progress of the overall project from June 2025 through to May 2026 and its opening.