Plymouth Brethren Trust to Be Registered as a Charity After Amending Governing Document

The Charity Commission has announced it will register the Preston Down Trust, a congregation of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, following amendments to its governing document. The Trust had previously sought charitable status as a test case for the Brethren, a religious group with approximately 16,000 members in the UK and over 50,000 globally. The Brethren adhere to a strict doctrine of separation, which prohibits interaction with non-members in matters of eating, drinking, and socializing.

The Commission initially rejected the Trust’s application in June 2012, citing concerns that the Trust was not “established for exclusively charitable purposes for the public benefit.” The Trust first applied for charitable status in 2009, and the Brethren subsequently lobbied extensively in Parliament to support their bid. In July 2012, the Trust appealed the decision to the Charity Tribunal, and the Brethren continued to seek parliamentary backing for their cause.

In January 2013, the Trust requested a stay of proceedings at the Tribunal, citing legal costs, and the Commission agreed to address the issue outside the Tribunal. The Commission noted it had received substantial evidence of “detriment or harm” arising from Brethren practices. It also expressed concerns over the original trust deed, which granted significant control to the worldwide leader of the Brethren, the minister of the Lord in the Recovery, currently held by Bruce Hales, an Australian.

In its decision document, the Commission stated that the Trust had agreed to a deed of variation to its original governing document. The amended trust deed was described as “characterising an organisation with exclusively charitable objects for the public benefit.” The Commission acknowledged that the Brethren were primarily run for the benefit of members but noted that their activities had a “beneficial impact through instruction and edification of the public in a Christian way of life.”

The Commission also highlighted “elements of detriment and harm” stemming from the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church’s doctrine and practices, which it said had “a real danger of outweighing public benefit.” Particular concern was raised regarding the impact of these practices on those who left the community and on children within it.

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