This profile provides an overview of Battle Baptist Church and it’s location, history, overall mission and vision to the year 2020. It also provides a flavour of church life today. If you require further information, please click on the links provided. A bit about Battle Battle is a market town on the A2100 in East Sussex about 7 miles north east of Hastings. It is named after the famous battle in 1066 which was fought, not in Hastings but in and around what is now Battle, which has grown recently with a population of about 7000 people. While the demography of the town's population is overwhelmingly British, people from a variety of ethnic and national backgrounds have enriched our church in recent years. (There is more information on our international partnerships at the bottom of this page.) For more about Battle, click on “Battle” Church history Zion Baptist Church was formed in 1780 as a Strict and Particular Baptist Church when a group of seven Christians from Battle were helped by an established church in Rye. Within a few years land had been purchased and a building erected. The church was a founder member of the Baptist Union and has supported the Baptist Missionary Society since 1792. Since 1820, the congregation has been based at Zion Chapel at the heart of the town; it is the third building the fellowship has used. For most of the 20th century the church was a typical country chapel congregation comprising around 40 members and a Sunday School, led by a succession of retired ministers or lay pastors. In 1979 John Halliday was called as lay-pastor, the first time for many years a young married man had been entrusted with this task. The church was in a state of shock when John was accidentally killed five months into his pastorate. In 1981 Dennis Nolan was called, initially as lay pastor, and asked to lead the congregation for a period of three months. That was extended twice and, in 1983, Dennis was ordained. He then became the church’s full time minister with the help of the Baptist Union’s Home Mission fund on 1 January 1984. The church grew and Home Mission support was not needed after 1986. For significant events in the history of the church since 1984, click on “Events” Buildings Since 1976 there has been a continuous programme of improving and updating the facilities in Mount Street. In 1986 the site of the original chapel was repurchased, the old burial ground cleared, and a neighbouring plot bought, so that the Manna House could be built, complete with a well-equipped kitchen to serve meals within the community. In 1997, the chapel was modernized to include a loop system and closed circuit television. In 2002, the Bayeux Centre was built as a separate but linked building at the back of the chapel. This provided a useful base for mission, including offices as well as prayer, resources and youth rooms. In 2006, the church purchased another small plot of neighbouring land, which will allow a further modest development. The current premises are adequate for weekday usage but they are too small for the whole congregation to meet simultaneously in Mount Street on Sundays Mission and “Vision to 2020”The mission of Battle Baptist Church is “Bringing Life to the heart of 1066 Country” by sharing the life-changing and good news of the Gospel to reach and disciple people for Jesus. In 2001, the Pastors believed that God had given them a vision of where the Lord wanted the church to get to by the year 2020, and this was articulated in the “Vision to 2020”. In summary, everything we do must enable the church to have some meaningful spiritual contact with 1000 people per week by 2020. For details of this vision and the action plan that is in place to enable the vision to happen, click on “Vision” Church life Since its foundation, Battle Baptist Church has been conservative and evangelical in theology. The preaching and teaching programme focuses on how to be a follower of Jesus in the 21st Century. The life of our church centres around the four Sunday congregations, frequent weekday meetings for prayer, and mid week house groups. Click on “Weekly programme” for a pdf file on the activities that take place in a typical week in the life of the church. Click on “Chart” for a chart that shows how all our activities are centred on the cross of Christ. Congregations The church meets congregationally on a Sunday as follows: · 9 am at Zion Chapel, often providing more traditional or reflective worship; · “Encounter with God” at 10.30 am at Claverham Community College, providing more contemporary worship, often attractive to younger families and people more on the edge of church life; · “BBC @ 4” at 4 pm at Zion Chapel, which is designed to attract people who wish to reconnect with church or who cannot come on Sunday mornings; · · “412” Youth Congregation (named after 1 Timothy 4 verse 12) at 6.30pm at Zion Chapel, for young people aged 11 to around 25 years; Worship styles vary and range from charismatic worship where the gifts of the Holy Spirit can be demonstrated (singing and speaking in tongues occur from time to time), to lively worship with clapping and flag waving, to reflective worship with liturgy; creative elements and congregational participation are also encouraged. Since 1984 people have been known to fall down whilst being prayed for. In our experience these phenomena seem to come in “seasons” rather than being present all the time. The church is blessed with several music teams – “adult” teams, who lead worship on a rota basis at all congregations, except for the youth congregation; and a “young adult” team dedicated to the youth congregation. On Sundays in August, Claverham College is closed, so all congregations are held at Zion Chapel in line with the different summer programme of services for each year. Prayer Corporate prayer is of vital importance to Battle Baptist Church. Over the years, we have given people many opportunities to come together to pray. Regular days of prayer and fasting, prayer breakfasts and early morning prayer meetings have been a feature of church life. There are regular ministry times during Sunday services in which people have the opportunity to ask for personal prayer. Housegroups Members are encouraged to join one of the many house groups, which meet mid—week, mostly in the evenings, for fellowship, worship, teaching and prayer. In an average year, 70% of church members attend a group. Young people’s ministry The young people’s ministry is currently organized into three areas covering the following activities: Pre-school Mission – led by Pat Nolan · Crèche at the 9 am, 10.30 am and 4 pm congregations on Sundays. · Parents and Toddlers mornings on Monday and Thursday. Pre-school Mission – led by Church Manager, John Southam · OFSTED registered Caterpillar Pre-school runs from Tuesdays to Fridays during term time to prepare children for primary school. The Pre-school meets OFSTED learning requirements while ensuring that our Christian ethos is clear to both children and their carers. Children Mission (for primary school children) – led by Andy Garlick · Sunday Clubs at the 9 am, 10.30 am and 4 pm congregations. · After School Club on Thursday afternoons. · Regular Holiday Clubs during half term weeks. · Annual residential to SPREE Camp. · Held in 2009/2010/2011 – Sportsreach 4-day Soccer and Bible school. · Regular training for Children’s Team. Youth Ministry (for young people aged 11 to 18 years) · Sunday congregation, housegroups and youth clubs. · Mid-week housegroups for: the 11s to 14s; and 15 plus. · Annual residentials to SPREE Camp, and Soul Survivor (14 pluses). · Systems in place to keep in touch with University students. Church membership The church rules state that Battle Baptist is an open membership church where people can become members if they are not baptized. However, the church teaches and strongly encourages believers’ baptism by immersion. So, in practice 99% of applicants have been baptized before they become members. The church accepts members based on their profession of faith. Under its “Saved to Serve” initiative, the church also uses the application process to identify how members are going to use their gifts and skills to play an active role within the life of the church. Church government As is usual in Baptist churches, regular “business” meetings are held to discuss and decide issues relating to church life. The church’s Trust Deed requires church meetings to be held at least four times a year. In practice, about 6 meetings are held, including the: Staffing Battle Baptist Church relies on the free and wholehearted financial and practical support of its members to enable to fulfill its mission and vision to 2020. In addition to this vital support, there is a staff team who are paid to carry out specified tasks in line with their employment contract and job description. The church has introduced a Staff Handbook, setting out simple staff policies and practices that: · staff can follow to ensure they contribute to the church’s work plan; and · the Pastor and Church Manager can use to manage their staff effectively. Click on “Staff” to see the Staff Handbook (or here as an Acrobat pdf file). Click on “Chart” to see the Church’s Staff organisation pdf file chart explaining “who does what” and “who manages who”. Key priorities Click on “Key Ministry Priorities” to see the Church’s plans agreed at the 2011 AGM. Links with other Christians Battle is near to Ashburnham Place Christian Conference Centre and Crowhurst Christian Healing Centre. These have provided people from Battle Baptist Church with employment as well as spiritual refreshment and training. Battle Baptist Church is normally represented at Regional Baptist Association gatherings but it would be fair to say that many of our members feel no particular allegiance to the Baptist denomination. Pastors Dennis Nolan and Francis Willoughby meet with with ministers from the Anglican, Roman Catholic and Methodist churches in Battle. The church’s overseas ministry links in Nigeria and Romania have largely arisen from personal relationships between Pastor Dennis Nolan or other church members, and pastors in those countries. Several members have visited Romania to support a small church at Ghimbav with outreach, worship, kindergarten and building work. A smaller but growing number have been to Nigeria to provide support with medical and practical issues. Dennis has delivered preaching and teaching programmes in both countries. New links in the Canary Islands and in the Middle East are being developed and we have people working overseas in a "restricted access" country where open evangelism is outlawed. Age and gender analysis of Church attendance A survey is undertaken on a Sunday in September every year. Figures were complied for the annual Baptist Union census. The Memorandum and Articles as agreed can be viewed here. Battle Baptist Church is a part of the Life with Hope Trust Charity Registration number 1134288 | 
