West Baptist Community Church was established in 1992 in the Spotswood area of New Plymouth. We’re part of the New Zealand Baptist movement, which means that as a local church community, we seek Jesus’ guidance under the dedicated oversight of our local board. Since 2012, Andrew Sangster has served as our pastor.
At West, our core values revolve around being a place of shelter, faith, and laughter for people at every stage of the faith journey. This includes those who hold many doubts alongside their faith and those who may have not always found a welcoming space in traditional churches. Our commitment to full inclusivity extends to our rainbow whānau.
Our Sunday services are a time of creative and interactive expressions of worship, where we involve and foster connections between people of all ages, including the kids. These services typically feature singing together, an interactive activity, skit or video, and a short sermon that bridges scripture and tradition with the practical application of Jesus’ teachings in our own lives and context.
Beyond our church walls, we extend our love and care to the wider local community through involvement with initiatives such as our local primary school breakfast club, chaplaincy, and providing food parcels. These are just a few ways we seek to live out the teachings of Jesus in practical ways as a church community.