Crash lasting for over a year. Minecraft pe on my iPad model A1454 iOS 9.5.3 hasn't let me play for around a year

I have an iPad model A1454 IOS 9.5.3 and haven't been able to play minecraft pe for around a year. It crashes with no chance to enter world or server. The game is completely updated as is my iPad. I've deleted everything on my iPad incase space was the issue but nothing has worked. I'm assuming the issue is that maybe the new mcpe updates requires you to get a newer device as it continues to update. As this isn't an option for me, is there a way to play previous versions of mcpe? I want the updates but now that it has been a year that I've been unable to play, I'd settle for less. Thanks.