Our story started back in 1983 when Rob and Pam Scott Cook started Highrove Church in Sea Mills. The growth of that church and a desire to reach the communities of Henleaze and Westbury led them to plant ‘Henleaze and Westbury Community Church’ in 1993. Over the following two years this new church grew to the point where we were able to plant a third church, Woodlands, in Clifton. Then in 2008, again as a result of growth, what was Henleaze and Westbury Community Church moved to the Greenway Centre in Southmead and became ‘The Community Church’. These three sister churches remain linked to this day, as the Woodlands Family of Churches.

In 2015, a new church in Brentry and Henbury called Branch Community Church was planted. A dedicated team with a vision for church in Brentry and Henbury started meeting in a home in Brentry. Later moving to Brentry Primary School before a move to The Bristol Community Links North Building. We moved online during the pandemic and then met at the Albert’s Place building in Westbury. We now meet at The Emmanuel Chapel building in Henbury.

The Woodlands Family of Churches now has congregations in 6 geographical sites across the City, including Metro in the City Centre and Woodlands Southside in Bedminster. What started with just a handful of people in 1983 has mushroomed incredibly. To find out more about the common vision of our group of churches click here.