Holywood Baptist Church
Trustees’ Report
The trustees present the annual report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2025.
Objects and aims
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Holywood Baptist Church ("the Church") acknowledges the headship of Jesus Christ over his Church and exists to glorify the triune God by maintaining and promoting his worship both individually and corporately. The principal charitable object of the Church is the advancement of the Christian faith according to the teaching of scripture, understood in its historical and evangelical sense, the Doctrinal Statement and Baptist principles. Its members devote themselves to the teaching of scripture, to fellowship, breaking of bread, prayer and evangelism.
Objectives, strategies, and activities
The activities carried out by the Church include:
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holding regular services for public worship, prayer, Bible study, preaching and teaching for all age groups;
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- providing pastoral care to the members of the church through visitation and prayer; - organising meetings and events that promote our charitable purpose; - Participating in the life of the local community; - supporting other Christian organisations and charities through volunteering, financial gifts and prayer.
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the Church should undertake.
Public benefit
The Church meets the public benefit requirement by providing benefit to its members and the general public by making known the Christian gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ through the advancement of the Christian Faith.
The Church continues to reach out into the community in several ways through different organisations as follows:
Sunday Services Prayer Meeting/Bible Study Home Groups Pastoral Care Team Sunday School/Bible Classes Ignite Youth fellowship Summer Schemes Creche Women's Fellowship Men's Fellowship Senior’s Lunch Prayer Team
The trustees confirm that they have complied with the requirements of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland.
Achievements and performance
2025 was a year where there was cause to look back and reflect on the goodness of God to the fellowship with the highlights being recorded in the Annual Report, which is available on request from the church office.
Financial review
The church recorded a net surplus forthe year of £11,159 Closing unrestricted reserves at 31 December 2024 were £45,159 Closing unrestricted reserves at 31 December 2025 were £56,318
Policy on reserves
It is Church policy to maintain a balance on unrestricted funds (if possible) which equate to at least 4 months unrestricted payments to cover emergency situations that may arise from time to time. This is estimated at £48,000 of unrestricted funds and on 31 December 2025 the Church had £56,318 of unrestricted funds available.
Structure, governance and management
Nature of governing document:
Holywood Baptist Church is an unincorporated entity operating under a constitution last updated in March 2023.
The trustees who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
Pastor Alistair McNeice Pastor Aaron Williamson Jonathon Baird Graham Speers Alan Mitchell Mark McKeown Jason McFerran Tim Shaw Gayle McKee Angus Biggerstaff Gary Robb James Stevenson Peter Cave Steven Patty Colin Thompson
This report was approved by the trustees of the charity on 9 April 2026 and signed on its behalf by:
aeof Angus Biggerstaff Trustee — Church Treasurer
Gary Robb Trustee — Church Secretary