The prehistoric period. Evidence of early human presence in this area is shown by a few flint artifacts from the later Stone Age and the following Bronze Age, but in insufficient numbers to suggest settlement. Tribal warfare may have initiated the construction of Cadbury Hill's Iron Age fort in the mid 5th century BC and Iron Age pottery found in the village, at Iwood and at Woodlands indicates possible settlement areas.

Romano-British Congresbury. The Roman invasion of 43AD rapidly affected this area. However only a few first century pottery shards have been found. Most pottery and coin finds in the parish date from the 2nd century and later. Romano-British kiln sites south of the village indicate pottery production in Congresbury from c250AD to, possibly, the mid 4th century with the pottery being traded over a wide area. Several reconstructed pots are on show in Woodspring Museum. Other Romano-British finds include a plough share and loom weights, used in making cloth, which, with pottery, often found in local gardens, and coins, indicate several settlement sites in the parish.

The coming of Christianity. When the Romans withdrew in 410AD the economy collapsed. Cadbury Hill fort was re-occupied, possibly from then until the early 600s. Archaeological digs in the 1960s and 70s showed that occupiers were of high status, but uncertainty exists as to whether it was a settlement or religious site or, possibly, both, at different periods. The 5th century was also the period when Celtic missionaries were spreading Christianity. One such, St Congar, founded a Christian community in this area. Legend says he was buried here (in a now unknown grave) in 473AD, hence the parish's name. It is possible that Congresbury was Christian from that date, but not until 888AD did a charter record a Minster church here.

1086AD. From 888AD until Domesday Book little is known about the parish. In 1086AD Congresbury had two mills and a population of about 500 people, almost all involved in mixed farming, although grain production took priority. Congresbury Manor, which included Wick St Lawrence, paid £28 15s [£28.75] annually in silver, a huge sum, to the then Lord, the King.

A new church and a new road. In the early 13th century the King gave Congresbury back to the Bishop of Bath & Wells and in 1215 a new church, St Andrew’s, built on Saxon foundations, was consecrated. Parishioners added the two aisles and the tower and spire in the next 250 years and pilgrims came, presumably, to see St Congar’s burial place. The early 13th century was also possibly when Broad Street was laid out to hold a market and fair. The market lapsed long ago but the September fair continued into the 1960s.

The Bristol connection. In 1548 Edward VI seized the manor from the Bishop of Bath and Wells. By 1569 John Carr of Bristol, a wealthy soap maker, owned the manor and later bequeathed it to found a hospital for, poor boys of Bristol and of Congresbury manor, so benefiting many Congresbury boys. The hospital survives as the Bristol school, Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Its trustees, originally Bristol’s Mayor and Aldermen, oversaw the manor’s affairs from the 16th to the 20th century. The long connection with Bristol can still be seen, as the Ship & Castle’s sign features Bristol’s coat of arms.

Lacking a Lord of the Manor. Congresbury manor has never had a resident Lord of the Manor, so there is no large Manor House (except Iwood Manor which had only 120 acres, compared with Congresbury’s 4000 acres now) and no medieval statues of long dead lords, as at Yatton or any massive Monument in the churchyard. But the church is well worth a visit and the churchyard has a monument to a Congresbury man who, severely wounded, captured a highwayman in 1830 and lived to tell the tale. The manor was overseen by a bailiff, often a local man , and parish affairs were organised by the vicar, when in residence, and prominent local people, mainly farmers. Most were tenants, who were often able to pass their tenancies to their children, providing considerable continuity. However, Hannah More, who started a Sunday School in Congresbury and many others elsewhere, was scathing about farmers. In 1792 she called them great ignorant farmers and a gentleman farmer was bursting with his wealth and consequence and purple with his daily bottle of port.

Water problems. Congresbury has long suffered from poor drainage and floods. In 1607 a great part of Congresbury was hidden by the sea and in 1656 a surveyor complained of the muddy moist unhealthiness of the air and poverty or idleness or both of residents in improving drainage. Of the great storm in 1703 the vicar of Ubley, not far away, wrote that the wind caused the sea to come in and their ground was spoiled and their cattle drowned. Indeed the moors were often covered by water for several months each year and not until the 1820s was anything major done. Many villagers remember 1968, when flood water reached 6ft 5ins in the Ship & Castle and 4ft in the Old Inn. Much has been done to prevent such problems recurring.

Changes in the 20th century. Up until the 1950s, agriculture, which had long been mainly milk and cattle, and its support services, provided the majority of employment. There were huge changes in the village between 1961 and 71 when the population more than doubled, but with the help of Alex Cran, then the vicar, the newcomers were accepted and Congresbury, with its wealth of history has remained a friendly community with much to offer both residents and visitors.