Information for Baptist students at Spurgeon’s College
This version 16 March 2026

Spurgeon’s College announced on 31 July 2025 that the College has entered the insolvency process, resulting in the immediate closure of the College. We have recognise the impact this has had and the disruption it has caused to all their students.
 
BUGB Ministries Team has worked with other partners across Baptists Together to support all Baptists who were part way through or about the start a programme of study and/or ministerial formation for accredited Baptist ministry or Recognised Local Ministry. This includes those who have a NAMs learning contract with Spurgeon’s. With this support, almost all Baptist students reached a settled place with respect to their ongoing studies and ministerial formation.  

 

BUGB Support

BUGB agreed with the Joint Administrators of Spurgeon's College to fund a Student Support Office. This was staffed by a small number of the Spurgeon's College staff. It operated for four weeks only and allowed students to request the data that would ease their transfer to new institutions. Importantly, it also enabled the submitted work of many students to be marked. Finally, it allowed BUGB to request the data that would help BUGB to continue to assess those training for accredited and recognised ministry. 

The BUGB Trustees then committed to the financial support to some students in the following ways:

BUGB gave compensation to Baptist students who had already paid some of the fees for 2025/26. Students were encouraged to submit an application to the Joint Administrators of the College, to seek to recover their money. Nevertheless, BUGB Trustees authorised payments to all students known by the Ministries Team to be in credit. 

BUGB were able to help all those who were on ministerial formation programme with the additional travel and accommodation costs incurred in moving to a different Baptist college. An appeal to the wider Baptist family raised £90,000 and this was distributed by the Ministries Team according to the different courses students were on. 



Please read on for more information for each group of Spurgeon's students.
 

1. BU Ministers-in-Training (MiT)

Almost all students who were on a programme leading to accreditation as a Baptist Union minister joined an alternative route for continuing their ministerial formation with another Baptist College. This was either the newly-formed London hub that Bristol Baptist College established in conjunction with London Baptists, or Northern Baptist College, Regent's Park College, or St Hild Centre for Baptist Ministry. 

2. Incoming BU Ministers-in-Training 

All those who were due to begin at Spurgeon's College on a pathway that leads to accreditation as a Baptist Union minister were able similarly to identify a route for continuing their ministerial formation.  

3. Ministerial students who were not BU Ministers-in-Training   

All students in membership or leadership roles within our Baptist churches who were on a ministerial pathway with Spurgeon’s which does not lead to BU accreditation have been able to join one of the alternative pathways provided by our Baptist Colleges, as mentioned above. This allows them to complete the necessary requirements for BUGB accreditation, should they at some point wish to go to MRC.  

4. Baptists studying for a theological qualification

Baptist church members and Baptist ministers studying for undergraduate or postgraduate theological qualifications as part of their own learning and development  received details of other providers to approach to ask about the continuation of studies. The list includes both Baptist and non-Baptist colleges. We notice with regret that one or two of the more innovative Spurgeon’s courses were unique to Spurgeon’s and it was not possible for other colleges to award accreditation for prior learning for these.    

5. BU Newly Accredited Ministers (NAMs)

All those continuing with their NAMs' learning contracts are continuing their work with a different College or with the help of their Association.  

NAM's who were due to start learning contracts with Spurgeon's from January 2026 were encouraged to get in touch with one of the other Colleges.

6. BU Recognised Local Ministers (RLM)

All of those on the Spurgeon’s Equipped to Minister course with a view to becoming an RLM have transferred to another provider of RLM curriculum training and will continue to participate in their Association-led spiritual formation group and with mentoring. 

7. Equipped to Minister students who were not seeking RLM status

There are a number of Baptist leaders and church members who were taking some of the ETM modules in either London, Birmingham or Histon, but were not on a track towards recognised ministry. For those at the Birmingham hub, Heart of England Baptist Association have organised for the teaching of the  remaining ETM modules for the immediate future. HEBA are hosting these learning days at Chester Road Baptist Church. Others who were half way through ETM and now wish to consider RLM training should speak to their Regional Minister about their options, but we are not arranging for the continuation of the Histon or London ETM hubs. Anyone wishing to take further modules and who can travel to Birmingham for the required Saturdays should speak to the HEBA regional team.  

Please note that there is also information on the Office for Students website that those studying for a University-validated qualification will find useful.  Likewise, the Office of the Independent Adjudicator has a page of information. 

Anyone training for Baptist accreditation and recognition who have questions that cannot be answered by your Regional Minister should email the Ministries Team.


Tim Fergusson and Lee Johnson
Ministries Team Co-Leaders