Highgrove Church was started in 1983 on a site that had previously been a brethren building but had been closed for 8 years. Rob and Pam Scott Cook saw it as an opportunity for community evangelism and growth so Highgrove Church, Sea Mills was born. By 1988 the building was full.

The leadership decided to plant out to a neighbouring community. Initially meeting as a home group, the church went public in 1992, first of all in Henleaze junior school, and then in its current location. This building below came on the market within the first 6 months and didn't meet its reserve price at auction, so we were able to buy it. Henleaze and Westbury Community Church began to meet on Sunday mornings. The church decided to stay one church but two congregations and meet together in the evenings alternating venues between Sea Mills and Henleaze. Henleaze grew rapidly, within 18 months it needed to have two services on a Sunday morning.

We began to meet in a more central venue in the evenings, in the Hawthorns Hotel in Woodlands Road, reflecting the need to accommodate a growing student dimension and a widening geographical area of attendees.

Woodlands came on the market in 1995 (just down the road) and failed to sell quickly. Rob prayed in it and had vision for it. We offered half the price as it continued to fall and were able to purchase the building at a bargain price. The building was used for evening meetings initially and then in 1996 Dave Mitchell took 60 people from Henleaze to open morning congregation.

In short, the Woodlands group of churches is effectively one church with 3 congregations. We grow at around 20% per year and across the 3 congregations there are nearly 1000 people meeting each week. At Highgrove, we meet for worship together on Sunday mornings but share our evening services with our sister congregations at the Woodlands Central building.

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