History and Philosophy
The Gospel Chapel Education Centre (GCEC) is situated in the rural and economically
challenged community of Annotto Bay, St. Mary. It was started in 1990 with twelve
students in its Basic Department. Preparatory and Kindergarten Departments were
added two years later.
GCEC, a Church Sponsored School, was started to help meet the educational needs of
the community as well as inculcate Christian values in the lives of children. It seeks to
bring a Christian presence to the community in meeting a social need while capitalizing
on the opportunities for evangelism and discipleship.
The Gospel Chapel Educational Centre was started by faith and it continues to trust in
the Lord to develop its full potential under God. It desires to make a significant impact
on the spiritual, educational, social, and even physical appearance of this rural
Jamaican community of Annotto Bay.
Members of the Founding Board are as follows: Raphael Thomas (Visionary and Project
Coordinator, Frederick Sutherland (Chairman), Pearl Sherwood (Principal) and Vidora
Moore (Board Member). School fee at the time was eighty dollars (Ja.) per child.
On July 5, 1992 after two years of operations, the school broke ground for building
expansion. Now in its 24th year, the school continues to expand its facilities to meet the
pressing needs of the community. The two departments now have a combined student
population of over 200 children. We are thankful to God as well as the many individual
and organizations that have helped us to construct buildings, pay salaries and impact
the lives of many children over the years.
The Preparatory school is currently headed by Mrs. Velda Thomas and the Basic
School is headed by Mrs. Merlene Seymour.
The Gospel Chapel Educational Centre is affiliated with the Christian Brethren Assemblies Jamaica (CBAJ) and the North-Eastern Missionary Conference,
which embraces 32 Christian Brethren Assemblies in Portland, St. Mary, St. Ann and St.
Catherine.
It is also committed to working in conjunction with the relevant departments of the
Ministry of Education to improve the educational standards of the nation.
The Gospel Chapel Educational Centre seeks to foster, facilitate, and champion the
academic and character development of its students:
− by recognizing the great potential they possess
− by providing opportunities inside and outside the classroom to direct, develop and
have them become aware of their own God-given potential
− by emphasizing integrity, responsibility and excellence through academia,
technology, the arts, self-awareness, physical fitness, spiritual development, global
and local awareness and conversation in a positive and aesthetically pleasing and
self-sufficient environment which focuses on the development of thought and the
capacity to learn – inspiring them to unlimited achievement through the process of
learning.
GCEC is committed to a holistic approach to education helping students to increase in
wisdom (academically) and stature (physically) and in favour with God (spiritually) and
man (socially). (Luke 2:52).
The Gospel Chapel Education Centre (GCEC) is situated in the rural and economically
challenged community of Annotto Bay, St. Mary. It was started in 1990 with twelve
students in its Basic Department. Preparatory and Kindergarten Departments were
added two years later.
GCEC, a Church Sponsored School, was started to help meet the educational needs of
the community as well as inculcate Christian values in the lives of children. It seeks to
bring a Christian presence to the community in meeting a social need while capitalizing
on the opportunities for evangelism and discipleship.
The Gospel Chapel Educational Centre was started by faith and it continues to trust in
the Lord to develop its full potential under God. It desires to make a significant impact
on the spiritual, educational, social, and even physical appearance of this rural
Jamaican community of Annotto Bay.
Members of the Founding Board are as follows: Raphael Thomas (Visionary and Project
Coordinator, Frederick Sutherland (Chairman), Pearl Sherwood (Principal) and Vidora
Moore (Board Member). School fee at the time was eighty dollars (Ja.) per child.
On July 5, 1992 after two years of operations, the school broke ground for building
expansion. Now in its 24th year, the school continues to expand its facilities to meet the
pressing needs of the community. The two departments now have a combined student
population of over 200 children. We are thankful to God as well as the many individual
and organizations that have helped us to construct buildings, pay salaries and impact
the lives of many children over the years.
The Preparatory school is currently headed by Mrs. Velda Thomas and the Basic
School is headed by Mrs. Merlene Seymour.
The Gospel Chapel Educational Centre is affiliated with the Christian Brethren Assemblies Jamaica (CBAJ) and the North-Eastern Missionary Conference,
which embraces 32 Christian Brethren Assemblies in Portland, St. Mary, St. Ann and St.
Catherine.
It is also committed to working in conjunction with the relevant departments of the
Ministry of Education to improve the educational standards of the nation.
The Gospel Chapel Educational Centre seeks to foster, facilitate, and champion the
academic and character development of its students:
− by recognizing the great potential they possess
− by providing opportunities inside and outside the classroom to direct, develop and
have them become aware of their own God-given potential
− by emphasizing integrity, responsibility and excellence through academia,
technology, the arts, self-awareness, physical fitness, spiritual development, global
and local awareness and conversation in a positive and aesthetically pleasing and
self-sufficient environment which focuses on the development of thought and the
capacity to learn – inspiring them to unlimited achievement through the process of
learning.
GCEC is committed to a holistic approach to education helping students to increase in
wisdom (academically) and stature (physically) and in favour with God (spiritually) and
man (socially). (Luke 2:52).