Baxter

Richard Baxter's Ministry: Richard Baxter was appointed to Kidderminster in 1641, serving for 20 years. During his time, he brought about a spiritual revival and was responsible for A Call to the Unconverted, a highly successful book that sold widely and was translated into multiple languages. 

Nonconformist Heritage: Baxter's ministry was part of the nonconformist movement, which sought to reform and improve the church outside of the established Church of England. 

Statue and Pulpit: A statue of Richard Baxter stands near St. Mary's Church in Kidderminster, and his Jacobean pulpit is preserved in the New Meeting House, a sister nonconformist building founded in 1782. 

The Baxter Congregational Church (1884–1972)

By the 1880s, the congregation had outgrown its Meeting House. The current Grade II listed building in the Bull Ring was constructed for the Congregational Church between 1884 and 1885. 

New building: Designed by architect F. W. Tarring, the new church was built in the Early English Gothic Revival style using red ragstone with stone dressings. Its prominent tower and spire make it a landmark in the town centre.

Richard Baxter's legacy: The church was named the Baxter Congregational Church in honour of the revered Puritan, and his statue was unveiled nearby in 1875. The statue was later moved near St. Mary's Church in 1967

The Baxter United Reformed Church (1972 onwards)

The church adopted its current name, the Baxter United Reformed Church, in 1972 following the merger of the Congregational Church in England and Wales and the Presbyterian Church of England. The church building, located in the Bull Ring, remained a place of worship for decades.