Annual Report for Whitehead Baptist Church (NIC108971)
6 April 2024 – 5 April 2025
The Trustees present their Report and Accounts for year ending 5 April 2025
Objects and activities of Charity
The Church acknowledges the headship of the Lord Jesus Christ over his Church and exists to glorify the triune God by maintaining and promoting His worship both individually and corporately. Its members devote themselves to the teachings of Scripture, to fellowship, breaking of bread, prayer and evangelism. They commit, with the help of God, to witness to the saving and sustaining power of the Lord Jesus Christ and to work for the extension of His Kingdom.
The principal charitable object of the Church is the advancement of the Christian faith according to the teachings of Scripture, the Doctrinal Statement and Baptist principles.
The trustees have given careful consideration to guidance issued by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland’s statutory guidance on Public benefit to ensure that the activities have helped to achieve the charity’s purposes and provide a benefit to the beneficiaries.
The main activities undertaken in relation to those purposes during the year.
-
Held regular services for public worship, prayer, Bible study, preaching and teaching for all age groups.
-
Provided pastoral care to the members of the church through visitation and prayer.
-
Organised meetings and events that promote our charitable purpose and participate in the life of the local community.
-
Support other Christian organisations and charities through volunteering, financial gifts and prayer.
The main activities and performance to further the Charity’s purpose for the public benefit The Church continues to meet the public benefit requirement by providing to its members and the public by making known the Christian gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and the advancement of the Christian faith.
The Trustees continued to provide weekly Sunday services and prayer meetings offering the opportunity for prayer, Bible teaching and worship through the hearing of God’s word and singing.
Performance was demonstrated through; the number of those attending activities and events and benefiting directly each week from the Bible teaching and the corporate worship,
the leaders and helpers mobilised each week through various programmes and the positive contributions of members within the wider community; and the effective pastoral care supporting both families and individuals.
Adults
Sunday Services continue to be well attended with many visiting speakers from other Christian charitable organisations.
The mid-week prayer meeting has provided a number of bible studies, as well as a forum to bring prayers requests and give thanks.
The men’s monthly ministry meeting continues to provide opportunity for fellowship, bible study and prayer which has been very encouraging.
A new regular women’s monthly meeting was also started and hosted at the church. From time to time this has included visiting speakers from other charity organisations.
The church called Jonathan Dowds to the office of Elder/Pastor in November 2024 and he is expected to be to be in post early May 2025.
Youth
The Youth group continue to meet weekly for Bible study and activities with some outings.
The Bible Class continues to meet for younger-aged regulars either attending before church as previously or alongside Sunday School i.e. during the service.
Kids
In the Summer of 2024, from 11-15 August, a Holiday Bible Club was held. It was wellattended by children not only from the Church but the wider community with numbers in the forties.
The Autumn programme commenced on 21 September 2024 with approximately 35 children signed up at the beginning of term and averaging thirty at the latter part of the year.
The Sunday School continues to meet each Sunday and also got involved again this year in a Craft & Coffee morning sale to raise money for a Northern Ireland based charity who support an orphanage in India.
Community
Again this year a Christmas Carol service was organised with many visitors from the local community attending.
The church has now established an evangelism team which promoted events such as the carol service.
The Church continued to support mission partners: Child Evangelism Fellowship; Rabboni Mercy Trust, Operation Mobilisation, Open Doors and Asialink both financially and prayerfully.
Structure, Management & governance of the Charity.
Charity Name: Whitehead Baptist Church is an unincorporated entity operating under a constitution adopted in January 2023.
Charity Number: 108971 registered. 21 October 2022
Public Address: 17 Slaughterford Road, Whitehead, Carrickfergus, Co Antrim, BT38 9TG
Website: https://www.whiteheadbaptist.co.uk/
Email: info@whiteheadbaptist.co.uk
Tel: 028 93373888
Trustee board:
-
Clifford Black
-
Declan Curley
-
Adrian Gregory
-
Ronnie McIlwaine
-
Keith Orr
Financial Review
The church received income of £63,428 and incurred expenditure of £51,421 giving a net surplus for the year of £12,007 (all to 5 April 2025).
Unrestricted reserves at 5 April 2025 amounted to £76,612 compared to £64,605 in the previous year.
There were no restricted reserves.
There are no funds held by the Church that are materially in deficit.
This report was approved by the trustees on 19 January 2026 and signed for on their behalf
Ronnie McIlwaine
19 January 2026