Cotham Church was originally Highbury Congregational Chapel, built in 1842 and opened on 6 July 1843, on land donated by Richard Nash.

[4] The exact location seems to have been chosen in part because its association with the 'Marian Martyrs' who were burned to death for heresy near the site during the 1550s.

[6] The gallows was moved to the New Gaol in 1820 and the cross base was dug up in 1829 when Cotham Road was laid out.

A stone said to be from Bewell's Cross is embedded in what is now the boundary wall of the church, with a plaque above it.

[12] The chapel opened to worship in July 1843 and a church was formed, with an initial congregation of twenty-one people, who were ministered to by visiting preachers.

[16] Despite being a member of the 'free churches', Arnold Thomas maintained good relations with the Bishop and Dean of Bristol.

In 1918 they invited him to lead the prayers at the Cathedral, on behalf of the city's nonconformists, at the thanksgiving service to celebrate the Armistice that ended the Great War.