Didcot GeoCache Series
After our recent GeoCache Series at Great Western Park (GWP) (cache #1-11) and in central Didcot (cache #12), we decided to place a few more caches in other parts of Didcot, in order to honour local heros, and to reflect our rich local history, stories and heritage. We hope you will enjoy these new caches and may also learn something when you are caching, thank you!
Didcot #13 - Didcot Baptist Church (Officially known as Church Micro 15466...Didcot - Baptist)
Didcot Baptist Church as a group of people was founded in 1934 and the building was built and opened on 20 October 1938. The building has been extended in several stages and currently has two associated community halls, teaching rooms, with connecting corridors. The main worship area was turned through 90 degrees during one of these extension projects.
About this church
The church was founded in 1938, built in the 1930s inter-war style. Architect was Carter Jonas. The church features two baptistry pools.
The building hosts a variety of activities through the week and central to the work and witness of the Church is the provision of regular public services of Christian worship. These services take place each Sunday at both 10.30am and 6.30pm. There is a full children’s programme during the morning services. The church seeks to be a friendly and welcoming community and anybody is free to attend any of these services.
The church family reflects the wide range of people living locally in and around Didcot, Oxfordshire. The church's vision is “to be a welcoming community, following Jesus and making him known”.
The building has been adapted over the years to meet the changing needs of the community. Some evidence of the modifications are clear from the brickwork on the outside.
The original building comprised the present sanctuary (without the extension to the South beyond the pillars) and the entrance hall. At that time the entrance hall was divided into a small meeting room, kitchen, vestry and boiler room. The main door was where the outside cross is now, and the two rooms on the platform were two toilets and a cloakroom.
The large hall to the right hand side and rear is called the Harry Lewis Hall and was built and opened March 1952. It was a separate building until 1985/86 when it was linked up to the church with the addition of two classrooms, a corridor and toilets.
The Community Hall to the rear was opened in 2000 and replaced a much older temporary hut. It was only recently joined by the link corridor to provide a fully enclosed overall facility which can be used by multiple separate groups simultaneously.
Information Sources:
https://www.didcotbaptist.org.uk/
https://ohct.org.uk/church/didcot-baptist-church/
About this multi-cache:
This is our third multi-cache, so any comments and suggestions are welcome.
Please note the slightly different opening times for the church (including its front car park) during weekdays and weekends. If you arrive outside of its opening time, then you might not be able to complete this multicache. You might want to check the church on Google Maps for its current opening time.
Please also note that the church's front car park can be very busy at times, so please be very careful when you enter/exit and walk inside this car park, especially when you come with GeoKids and GeoPets.
At the published coordinates, you will see a large notice board. The number of letters in the second word on the top line equals A.
Then please enter the church's front car park safely and move to Stage 2. You may see a large Christian cross on the front wall, which is made of multiple slates. The total number of slates in this cross equals B.
Afterwards, please exit the car park safely, and move to Stage 3, where you may see a smaller notice board. The number of letters in the first word on the top line equals C.
There is also a phone number on the same small notice board, which reads as 01235 DEFGHJ.
The final coordinates are a short walk away at:
N51 36. (A - 4) (B - C - 2) (D - 3)
W001 15. (E + F - 1) (H - G - 4) (H - J - 1)
The checksum of all the digits in the final coordinates is 36.
Please also note:
Please bring your own pen, and open & close the cache lid carefully and properly so the cache can survive longer. Also please seal the log book bag properly so the log paper will remain dry. The container has enough space for some items and swaps.
Please also replace exactly as found due to obvious reason, and please be careful with the possible thorns, stinging nettles, and overhead tree branches! Long sleeves, trousers, and gloves are recommended.
Thank you and enjoy GeoCaching!
FTF: Congratulations to wendykmj for their FTF on 31 July 2025!
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If you would like to add to the Church Micro series yourself then please visit
http://churchmicro.co.uk/
There is also a Church Micro Stats & Information page that can be found at
http://www.15ddv.me.uk/geo/cm/index.html
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