Didcot is England’s most normal town. Statisticians reached that conclusion after crunching the numbers in 2017.
With a working-class population connected with the railway and power station, a sizable benefits class in social housing, alongside large numbers of nuclear scientists and biotech research labs, and huge new housing developments that are more affordable than Reading and Oxford, Didcot is an interesting microcosm of English life. It is set to double in size by 2035 as a ‘Garden Town’ with 10,000 homes being built. It is also home to the Baptist Union headquarters, but, given its rapid growth, not overwhelmed with churches, particularly on the new estates.
Hanney Chapel near Grove was a church revitalisation from Abbey Baptist Church in Abingdon, and both churches have drawn people from Didcot over the years. In 2017, Hanney Chapel were particularly burdened about planting a new church in Didcot. Pastor Mark Fisher says: ‘We recognised there was this large, growing town on our doorstep where many people were travelling out to find a church. We felt there was a need for a Reformed church that is Bible-centred with a clear gospel focus, and we are excited by the opportunities for the work of God’s kingdom in Didcot.’
