Supreme Court extends affidavit deadline for Shuttleworth in Tarrant Baptist land case

The Supreme Court has given Pastor Jeffrey Shuttleworth extra time to lodge additional affidavits in his continuing court fight with the Jamaica Baptist Union (JBU) over who owns the Tarrant Baptist Church grounds in St Andrew.

His lawyers secured the extension on Monday. The court also fixed case management for February 18, 2027.

At issue is title and control of the church premises at 51 Molynes Road, St Andrew.

In December 2024 the JBU began Supreme Court proceedings seeking rulings that it is the rightful owner and controller of the land and that it may carry out a survey there. The union says the survey is part of a broader drive to bring Baptist church holdings islandwide onto the title register under the Registration of Titles Act.

The JBU bases its case on the Jamaica Baptist Union (Incorporation and Vesting) Act, 1969, which it argues placed Baptist church properties in the union’s ownership. It further says that while Shuttleworth was pastor at Tarrant Baptist Church, he was posted there and remained subject to the union’s authority.

Tensions rose after Shuttleworth signalled plans to seek a possessory title through the National Land Agency. In January 2025 the court issued an injunction barring him from pressing that application or taking other steps to assert ownership until the claim is decided.

Shuttleworth denies the union’s case, arguing it holds no legal interest in the land. Filings from his side state he has occupied the site for nearly 17 years and has invested in works including church renovations, solar panels, upgrades to a radio station, retaining walls, and improvements to a basic school on the grounds.

He also says he left the JBU after concluding it had drifted from traditional Christian teaching, and that any link with the union was based on courtesy rather than ownership.

The JBU continues to assert that it owns the property and may manage its lands and buildings. The union says it covers more than 300 congregations in Jamaica and has a membership exceeding 40,000.

Hugh Wildman & Company acts for Shuttleworth. Emile Leiba and Kymberly Hanniford of DunnCox act for the JBU.