Towerview Church Bangor
Trustees Report 2025
Schools and Community Outreach Impact
The Church continues to reach out to local schools and families. Dianne Hamilton, our Schools and Community outreach worker, assists in three local primary schools: Ballymagee, Towerview, and Killmaine. In addition, she runs the Scripture Union afterschool club at Towerview School at the school’s request. We are grateful to be one church in the area that prays for and supports these local schools.
The Shakes and Bakes Games Café continued to run on Friday afternoon for local primary school children and their parents or guardians.
In 2025, the church continued to run HUB ( H ope, U nconditional Love, B elonging)– a midweek early-evening club for primary school children featuring games, crafts, and Scripture. In addition, the church began a Youth Fellowship (for younger secondary schoolaged children) every second Sunday night, featuring food, games, and Alpha-style Bible study.
In 2025, Towerview ran its first American Sports Summer camp with the help of Breakout Ministries. Eighteen kids signed up, and five expressed an interest in following Jesus Christ.
Oasis – a ministry for senior citizens in the church community and neighborhood continues to run throughout the year.
Financial Update.
Towerview Church is grateful for all the members and attendees who give to support its mission to the local community. In addition, we are thankful for grants from Joseph Rank, Gateway Church, Kendal, the Free Methodist Church USA, and one anonymous grant that all support our Schools and Community Outreach. In 2025, Towerview Church had total receipts of £92,721.66 and total payments of £86,308.71, giving an operating surplus of £6,412.95 at year’s end.
Maintenance Projects
Two significant maintenance projects were completed in 2025. First, the church sanctuary was painted. Second, the church hall floor was replaced. Total maintenance cost totaled £11,242.97.
Annual Society Meeting
At the 2025 Annual Society Meeting (AGM), Colin McClean, Emma Thompson, Luke Hamilton, and Andrew McKenzie were elected to the Church Board. Luke Hamilton subsequently resigned, and the board appointed Ivan Filby to serve until the 2026 Society Meeting.
Retirement of Rev. Kathie Filby as Lead Pastor
2025 was a year of transition for Towerview Church in Bangor. Pastor Kathie Filby announced her plans to better care for her mother. After consultation with the Free Methodist Church in the UK and Ireland’s Ministerial Education and Guidance Committee (MEG), the denomination advertised the position. One viable candidate emerged: Mr. Andrew McKenzie, Towerview Church’s Conference Ministerial Candidate, and a panel comprising members of the Free Methodist MEG Board, the Church’s Lay Delegate and Church Treasurer interviewed him. His nomination was considered by the Free Methodist Ministerial Appointments Committee, and Andrew was selected as Towerview Church’s next pastor, beginning in January 2026
Sincerely
Rev. Dr. Ivan Filby
For Towerview Church Trustees.