There was once a man called Mr Parker, who encouraged his friend Mr Collins to give a plot of land on which a Baptist Church could be built. The 1936 deeds were put away by the Baptist Union and forgotten but in 1948 the site, which had been a US Army camp during the war, was fenced and a committee formed to discuss starting a church. Some vital decisions were made in meetings at Pinewood Lodge, Kanes Hill, the home of Mrs Mabel Parker, and in 1950, the Keightley Hall building was opened as the original church.

At this stage there was no minister or deacons but in July 1951, fresh from Bristol Baptist College, Rev Frank Keightley became the first Pastor. For the first seven years, his salary was paid by the Home Work Fund (now the Home Mission Fund) but by 1954 Thornhill Baptist Church was formally constituted. At the covenant service the 28 who had decided to become full members signed the Foundation Roll.

During the ministry of Rev Gordon Thomas, from 1959 to 1967, the church grew spiritually and numerically and all the extension work was carried out. With a membership of about 50, supported by the Home Work Fund, the present church building was opened on 16th October 1965.

Sadly the next period of ministry of Rev Charles Bullock was cut short by his death in 1972. He was a man of vision and felt that one day this church would be full to overflowing.

In 1973 the Rev Frank Pratt came to lead us. There was much blessing under his caring ministry and the building debt was finally cleared. Due to ill health he had to move to a smaller church.

In 1973 the Rev Frank Pratt came to lead us. There was much blessing under his caring ministry and the building debt was finally cleared. Due to ill health he had to move to a smaller church.

Over the years, the church has run children and young peoples activitities, ranging from Playgroup to Boys and Girls Brigades, which operated from the early days. The Brigades were subsequently replaced with Covenanters in the 1980s, replaced in turn by the current activities in the 1990s.

In 1978 the Rev David Ronco became the Pastor and was used by God to lead the church in an exciting time of spiritual and numerical growth, which saw the church strengthen its full-time team. During this period, David Caplin was our full-time Church Worker from 1981 to 1984, followed by two Assistant Pastors, first Rev Stephen Willis from 1985 until 1989, followed by Rev Ian Inglis.

There were a number of challenges during this period, not least when in 1985, at a time when our funds were low after buying a second manse, we discovered subsidence in the corner of the main church building. The underpinning building work was carried out against an estimate of £13,000, and was completed when we had a Thankoffering Day which raised £22,120 in a single day. Extra repair jobs then came to light and the final bill was £21,021. Our Heavenly Father had known £13,000 wouldn't be enough! A further Gift Day in 1989 raised an amazing £30,000, which enabled the purchase of another manse, freeing up the rooms which are now the Care Centre, for counselling, offices and small meetings, whilst the Assistant Pastor, Ian Inglis and his family, were accommodated in a Harefield estate house.

David Ronco left in 1992 and Ian Inglis moved to lead another church in September 1994, the year in which Rev David Bird came. A year later Bob Morris came as Youth Pastor and the youth work thrived under his leadership. But at this time the church went through a difficult time and in October 1997 David Bird left. Rev John Pearce came to the church in November 1999 with his wife, Jenny. John was previously pastor at Dorford Baptist Church. He and Jenny have three grown-up children. John trained at Northern Baptist College after a career in teaching.

In 2004 Bob Morris moved on to Cirencester Baptist Church and we were joined by a new Assistant Pastor, Andy Mills and in 2005 a new Children's and Youth Minister Chrissie Harpham. Tragically Chrissie died suddenly in June 2006.

In 2007 John Pearce moved on to Loughton Baptist Church in Milton Keynes. In March 2008 we started a major refurbishment to our buildings that were completed in November. In November 2008 Ruth Neve was appointed as the new Senior Minister. Ruth is married to James and has two grown-up children.