In his pamphlet on Stevington Baptist Church, H. G. Tibbutt stated "The Baptist Church at West End, Stevington, Bedfordshire, dates from 1655. The only Nonconformist churches in the district with older foundations are Bunyan Meeting, Bedford (1650) and Keysoe Brook End Baptist Church (1652)". The origin of this date is in the first church book, which was begun in 1673 [X239/1] and states: "About eighteen years ago some of the faithful in Christ did gather together at Steventon, in the County of Bedford, to walke in the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord, with their beloved Brother and teacher Stephan Hawthorne, their Overseer, whose names, with the names of them that have since added unto them, are hereunder written".

The names are as follows - note that "gone home" indicates that they had died:

• Gregory Reade of Stevington, "an old disciple, gone home";
• Katherine Reade, "his wife, gone home also";
• John Reade, "sleep in Jesus: he was a teacher and was also appointed to break bread to the Church as an elder in the chief brother's absence, and to baptize believers";
• Judith Reade, "his first wife, departed";
• Richard Laughton of Stevington "departed";
• Thomas Wooton of Stevington "departed";
• Mary Coxe of Stevington "departed";
• Elisabeth Finden of Oakley "daughter of Gregory [Reade] above named";
• William Ashburn, "he died at Milton [Ernest]";
• Henry Savage of Milton [Ernest];
• Elisabeth Savage "his first wife, departed";
• Thomas Kinge of Wollaston [Northamptonshire];
• Mary Read, "wife to Edward Reade of Steventon";
• Mary Hine of Radwell, widow;
• Margaret White of Oakley, widow;
• Elisabeth Negus of Stevington, wife of Henry Negus;
• John Allen of Stevington;
• Elisabeth Allen "his wife";
• Frances Laughton of Stevington "wife to John Laughton";
• Mary Smith, "the wife of Giles Smith of Thurley";
• Deborah Coxe of Stevington, widow;
• Susannah Stratton of Stevington, widow;
• John Harrison of Turvey;
• Duglis Little of Pavenham;
• Mary Savage "wife to Brother Savage above mentioned";
• Mary Reade "daughter to Gregory [Reade] abovementioned";
• Susannah Lovell, wife of Thomas Lovell of Pavenham;
• Elisabeth Laughton of Stevington;
• Daniel Negus of Stevington;
• "Mistress Frances Atkinson, wife to Mr. Thomas Atkinson of Northampton";
• Elisabeth Adams of Stevington, widow, "departed";
• Elisabeth King of Radwell, widow;
• Elisabeth Toll of Chellington, "departed";
• Anne Newman of Stevington;
• Anne Classen of Brayfield-on-the Green [Northamptonshire];
• Ellin Woodfeild of Stevington "departed";
• William Finden of Oakley;
• Sussanah Boman of Pavenham;
• Thomas Lovell of Pavenham;
• Samuel Harvey of Pavenham;
• Nicholas Chapman of Pavenham;
• Mary Chamberlaine of Oakley;
• Ketherin Osmond of Stevington;
• Mary Negus of Stevington "daughter of Elisabeth Negus named above";
• Edward Bull of Pavenham;
• John Fowler of Oakley';
• John Norris of Turvey;
• Alice Copperwheat of Oakley;
• Anne Higges of Clapham "wife to Thomas Higges";
• Elisabeth Norris of Turvey "wife to John Norris above named";
• Mary Laraunce of Stevington;
• Frances Negus, "daughter of Elisabeth Negus above named";
• Anne Holt of Hackleton [Northamptonshire];
• Richard Dixe of Chellington;
• James Clare of Weston;
• Richard Laughton of Bowshott [Bozeat, Northamptonshire?];
• Ellin Tod of Hackleton;
• John Carter of Stevington;
• John Dix of Radwell;
• Ellin Laurance of Stevington "wife to Brother Laurance";
• Thomas Laurance of Stevington;
• Aquila Laurance of Stevington;
• Israel Pake of Stevington;
• Katherine Pake of Stevington, widow;
• "Mistress Judith Barringer, wife of Joseph Barringer of Steventon";
• Elisabeth Carter "wife to Brother John Carter above mentioned";
• Elisabeth Renolds "wife to William Renolds of Chellington";
• Mary Dixe of Radwell;
• Susannah Fowler of Oakley "wife to our Brother John Fowler";
• Mary Odell of Horton [Northamptonshire];
• Fisher of Oakley "wife to Richard Fisher";
• Margaret Grunden of Oakley "wife to Robert Grundon";
• Joan Stratton, widow;
• Dennis Rose;
• MargeryChurch;
• John Greenwood;
• Mary Ball;
• Mrs. Martha Hilton;
• Elisabeth Coles;
• William Hilton;
• Susanah Alison;
• Alice Bithrey;
• Frances Shelton;
• Nathan Brown;
• Mary Roberts;
• Austin Tayler;
• Ann Balderson;
• Richard Moby;
• Alice Cox;
• Elisabeth Feild;
• Elisabeth Ashburner;
• Elisabeth Lowle;
• Sarah Scrivener;
• Elisabeth Tayler;
• Hannah Bozard;
• Francis Boyes;
• John Bithrey;
• John Payne;
• Mary Pain;
• Mary Payne;
• John Classon;
• John Grime;
• Elinor Tayler;
• Ana Boney;
• Mary Cox;
• Susanah Pitum;
• Richard Lambert;
• Edward Dison;
• Ann Lambert;
• Edward Stevenson;
• Constance Dickens;
• James Paine;
• Elisabeth Stratton;
• Elisabeth Boyes;
• Elisabeth Woodward;
• Mary Negus;
• James Hardick;
• Mary Allen;
• William Ashburne;
• Elisabeth Stratton;
• Benjamin Fen;
• Sarah Hulet;
• John Kingstone;
• Mary Aclom;
• Mary Greenwood;
• Jane [blank];
• E [blank];
• Henry Hallowwood;
• Jonathan Laughton;
• Elisabeth Heines;
• Frances Hodge alias Woodward;
• Elisabeth Odell;
• Ruth Church;
• Mara Scevington;
• Mary Seward;'
• Sarah Feazy;
• Elisabeth Foskett;
• Robert Church;
• Woodam;
• Mary Seward;
• Margaret Skevington;
• Susannah Hardick;
• Ann Coxe;
• Robert Stoaks;
• Frances Rogers of Slappon [?];
• Ralfe Page;
• Elisabeth Rogers of Slappon;
• Priscila Bray;
• Elisabeth Morris;
• Elisabeth Morris;
• Sarah Harris;
• Benjamin Shelton;
• Robert Man;
• Josias Webster;
• Margerit Steffe;
• Mary Stratton;
• John Scrivener;
• William Bithwrey;
• Jeffery Woodam;
• Hester Gurney;
• Susannah Norris;
• William Collisson;
• Samuel Laughton.

"The names of persons excommunicate out of our church"

• William Hine of Radwell "dead";
• Elisabeth Frint "of Oakley, a Quaker";
• Elisabeth Herrin of Dean;
• Joan Lord of Felmersham;
• John Greenwood;
• Mary Greenwood;
• Elisabeth Renolds;
• Mary Chamberlain;
• Thomas Sharpe "was suspended and did under go that censure".

"The names of persons who are admitted into fellowship and full communion with us, belonging to other congregations":

• Cicely Bull, "wife to Edward Bull of Pavenham";
• Mary Reade, "widow, late wife to Brother John Reade";
• Sarah Chapman, "Wife to our Brother Nicholas aforenamed, both of the congregation over which Mr. John Gibbs is overseer";
• Judith Tappe, "of a congregation in London who walked in fellowship with honourable Mr. Henry Jessey, deceased";
• Mary Lovell "of another church in London, walking in fellowship with Mr. Hanserd Knollys"