Information for Baptist students at Spurgeon’s College
This version 10 October 2025

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 are 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. Most Baptist students have now (mid-October) reached a fairly 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, in effect until the close of play 29 August. It allowed students to request the data that would ease their transfer to new institutions. Importantly, it also enabled the work of many students whose work was submitted before 18 August 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 committed to offering financial support to some students in the following ways:

BUGB has offered 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. Any Baptist student who had credit with the College and who has not received compensation should get in contact with the Ministries Team. 

BUGB will help those who are formally part of their ministerial formation programme with the additional travel and accommodation costs incurred in moving to a different Baptist college. Ministries Team will contact each student with details of how they may receive a payment after 9 November 2025 when the appeal (see below) closes. In addition to this support for travel and accommodation costs, BUGB Ministers-in-Training should note that if fees are higher than Spurgeon's charged, the greater amount can be entered on the BUGB student bursary application form administered by the receiving college.  

If you would like to play your part in supporting students financially, you can now do this by making a voluntary donation towards the costs that students are unexpectedly incurring. BUGB will collect and distribute the money. More details on how to give and what the money will be used for may be found here. 

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 now have an identified route for continuing their ministerial formation with another Baptist College. This is either the newly established London hub that Bristol Baptist College has established in conjunction with London Baptists, or Northern Baptist College, or Regent's Park College.  Any student who received a Baptist Union bursary for training as a MiT will be able to apply to their new Baptist College for a bursary for this year. Bursaries are means tested.

2. Incoming BU Ministers-in-Training 

Almost all those who were due to begin at Spurgeon's College on a pathway that leads to accreditation as a Baptist Union minister has an identified route for continuing their ministerial formation.  Incoming MiTs may be eligible for a Baptist Union bursary (if or once they have been accepted for ministerial formation by a Ministerial Recognition Committee.) Bursaries are means tested and the college will provide the MiT with the necessary application form. 

3. Ministerial students who are 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 now have an identified route to continue their ministerial training. This will allow them to complete the necessary requirements for BUGB accreditation, should they at some point wish to go to MRC. Any student considering MRC should speak to their regional minister in the first instance. 

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 have 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 are unique to Spurgeon’s and it may prove difficult for other colleges to award APL for these.    

5. BU Newly Accredited Ministers (NAMs)

All those continuing with their NAMs' learning contracts should now have heard from their Association. Some Associations are appointing theologically-skilled ministers to set and assess any outstanding NAMs learning contract work. Other Associations have encouraged their NAMs to join another college's NAMs' programme.  Any NAM who is unaware of how they can continue with their learning contract requirements should speak to their regional minister. 

NAM's who were due to start learning contracts with Spurgeon' from January 2026  should get in touch with one of the other Colleges. However, we recommend they speak to their Regional Minister first to be guided as to the most appropriate choice. 

6. BU Recognised Local Ministers (RLM)

We believe we have identified pathways for all those who were on the Spurgeon’s Equipped to Minister course with a view to becoming an RLM to continue their studies. Any RLM trainee who is not aware of their options should speak to their Regional Minister in the first instance.  RLM trainees should continue to take part in their Association-led spiritual formation group and with mentoring. 

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

We anticipate there are a number of Baptist leaders and church members who are taking some of the ETM modules in either London, Birmingham or Histon, but are not on a track towards recognised ministry. For those at the Birmingham hub, Heart of England Baptist Association have committed to organise the teaching of the  ETM modules for the immediate future. It will continue to be hosted by Chester Road Baptist Church and the module cost will be similar to that charged by Spurgeon's. For more details please contact the HEBA team - their email address is shown on their website homepage.

Unfortunately, we do not have a way of enabling either the Histon or London ETM hubs to continue. If you are able to get to Birmingham for the necessary Saturdays and wish to join the Birmingham hub for any further ETM modules, please contact the HEBA 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. 

If you are training for Baptist accreditation and recognition and your questions cannot be answered by your Regional Minister, please email the Ministries Team.


Tim Fergusson and Lee Johnson
Ministries Team Co-Leaders