Brief History of the Church

The Church was founded on 16th October 1837 on its present site by the evangelist and educationalist Henry Battiscombe, Fellow of King’s College, Cambridge, who had seceded from the Church of England. It grew rapidly and was constituted as a church of “Evangelical Protestant Dissenters of the Particular Baptist Denomination holding the principles of Open Communion”. The Sunday School increased to 500 members with Bible Classes held in various parts of Cambridge. By 1876 a larger Chapel was required, which was eventually opened in 1879. By the turn of the century the church had reached its zenith with 500 members and 680 in the Sunday School. With growth came struggles of size, communication as well as doctrinal debates. Many of the younger people left Cambridge to serve in the First World War and never returned. Similarly congregations declined following the 1939-1945 War when massive social change occurred in Britain. ZBC responded to the new situation with Guest and Choral Services, dramas, visitation in the community and work amongst students.

At times the building has been under threat from the Cambridge Development Plans and road widening schemes, though in 1994 it became a Grade II Listed Building and thus has a measure of protection. In co-operation with the Cambridge City Council, the Church buildings have been cleaned and the stonework repaired. The interior of the complete premises has been decorated, largely by the members of the congregation.