Spurgeon’s College, based in grand buildings on South Norwood Hill and one of the country’s oldest theological institutions, with a history that goes back almost 170 years, yesterday announced that it was closing with immediate effect because of insurmountable financial pressures.
Sudden closure: Spurgeon’s College, which has been based in their South Norwood home since 1923, gave no notice of this sudden decision
The college’s board of trustees said that Spurgeon’s had “no choice” but to declare the college insolvent following the abrupt termination of a key funding partnership.
The college, aligned with the baptist, Christian church, was founded in 1856 by Charles Spurgeon as “Pastors’ College”.
It adopted its current name in honour of its founder when moving to its current building in 1923.
Public records at Companies House hint at the gathering financial storm facing Sturgeon’s, with four directors, including Rev Prof Philip McCormack, the chair of the board and college principal, all having resigned since June this year.
Rev Helen Stokley became acting principal and the college’s vice-chancellor only on July 15, and it was Rev Stokley who put her name to the many advisory letters distributed to current or prospective students yesterday.
Resigned: Rev Prof Philip McCormack
The most recent financial accounts filed to Companies House, for the year ending July 31 2024, showed spending had reached more than £2million over its income. The college had recently been in receipt of significant loans, while also selling off some property assets.
“Like many higher education institutions — particularly within the theology sector —Spurgeon’s College has faced significant financial challenges for several years, driven by declining student numbers and an increasingly complex and difficult financial landscape,” the statement from the trustees said.
A charitable foundation “provided vital financial support”, but “this relationship was, without warning, unexpectedly terminated” on July 21.
“As a result, the college can no longer sustain its financial operations and has been left with no choice but to enter the insolvency process immediately,” the statement said, as 169 years of training of baptist ministers was brought to an end.
“We understand this news will come as a profound shock to many,” they said.
‘It is with heavy hearts’: how the news was shared online yesterday. Since then, Spurgeon’s has closed down most of its website
“It is with heavy hearts that we share this news, and we express our deep gratitude to all who have supported Spurgeon’s College throughout its history.”
Letters: Rev Helen Stokley
The sudden closure has had an immediate impact on another charity based in Thornton Heath and South Norwood which cares for older people and those with learning difficulties, and which has been staging its regular lunch clubs using Spurgron’s kitchen and dining hall since the covid lockdown in 2020. They now have no premises from which to function.
Karen Jewitt, the Labour councillor in Thornton Heath who runs the lunch club charity, said that she had only been informed of the closure at 3pm yesterday.
“I will no longer have space to run the lunch club for local elders and adults with learning disabilities,” Councillor Jewitt wrote.
“I spent last night making calls trying to explain what was happening to my older people and calls to the adults with learning disabilities’ homes.
“It has been traumatic.”
The councillor and other volunteers faced a morning of clearing the charity’s possessions from Spurgeon’s.
“I am trying to get my head round what the next step is,” Jewitt said. “After 17 years working with our volunteers and clients, this is devastating.”
With little money to pay for a replacement venue, Jewitt has been frantically searching for somewhere to continue the charity’s work. “I do not hold out much hope,” she said, “but I will still try.”
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