Local churches form the front-line of Baptist mission. Over 2,100 churches belong to the BUGB, each of them autonomous, self-funding and the majority of them financially independent.

Most churches have their own building but others meet in homes, schools, community centres and other public places. Some follow a traditional style of worship whilst others are trying new ways of doing church to attract people that can find church alien to their culture and way of life. Churches will normally meet for worship on Sunday but will also have meetings during the week like bible study groups, parents and toddlers, youth clubs, lunch clubs etc.

Some churches in the Union are not solely Baptist but a combination of two or more denominations known as a Local Ecumenical Partnership (LEP). Baptist churches in some areas have formed a 'cluster' and many work with other denominations on joint mission events and projects for their communities.

There are Baptist churches with a team of ministers whilst others may have a part-time minister or no minister at all. A national fund, Home Mission, provides grants to those churches who would struggle to finance a minister's wages or an evangelism project on their own. Home Mission also pays for publications, training events and support for all local Union churches from regional associations and the national resource centre in Didcot.

Use our Church Finder to find a BUGB church near you. Click here.