Spiritus Theological College

Registered charity 1056606 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as S W M T C, SOUTH WEST MINISTRY TRAINING COURSE, South West Ministry Training Course

The provision of theological education and training for Christian ministries, candidates being presented by the participating churches, together with the provision of theological education to members of the public and delivery of 'Exporing Christianity' modules to lay disciples.

Objects

TO ADVANCE THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION BY THE PROMOTION OF THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND TRAINING

Area of benefit: NOT DEFINED

The charity’s charitable objects and area of benefit, quoted from its governing document as held on the Charity Commission register.

Causes: Education/training · Religious Activities · website · Get email alerts

Registered contact address: Cornwall, South West, England (from the postcode on the register)

Latest income

£340k

Latest spending

£399k

Registered

1996

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity reported a net loss of £63,352 for the year ended 31 August 2025, resulting in a decrease in total funds from £460,899 to £397,547. The trustees consider the level of unrestricted reserves to be adequate to meet the charity's objectives and policy targets. Future losses are being mitigated through increased product development and diversification of income streams.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Largest income source: Anglican student fees (58% of income)

“Anglican student fees 195,978” — page 12

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Reserves policy: three months of normal working expenditure (reserves figure: £395k)

“The policy of the Charity is to hold in the general reserve sufficient funds to cover not less than three months of normal working expenditure.” — page 6

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.

Policies the charity declares

In its annual return the charity told the Commission that it has the policies listed below. This is self-declared: it is not verified by the Commission or by this site, and it is not evidence of how a policy works in practice.

Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
Complaints handling
Complaints policy and procedures
Conflicting interests
Financial reserves policy and procedures
Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
Internal risk management policy and procedures
Investing charity funds policy and procedures
Investment
Paying staff
Risk management
Safeguarding policy and procedures
Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
Trustee expenses policy and procedures
Volunteer management

From the charity’s annual return (Part A, self-declared)

Answers and figures the charity gave in Part A of its annual return to the Charity Commission. They are self-declared: not verified by the Commission or by this site. Only positive answers and figures are listed; items not listed are simply not shown.

Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/08/2025

Volunteers: 9

Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/08/2023

Volunteers: 6

Source: this charity’s annual returns on the Charity Commission register.

Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): instagram

Trustees · trustee networks

Rev Prof Morwenna Ann Ludlowchair
Charles Mills · trustee of 1 other charity
Hannah Foster
Paul Netherton OBE · trustee of 1 other charity
Rev Andrew Farmer · trustee of 1 other charity
Revd Dr Adam Dunning · trustee of 1 other charity
Richard Orr
Rt Revd James Treasure · trustee of 2 other charities
The Rt Revd James Grier · trustee of 1 other charity

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Cornwall · Devon · Somerset

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/08/2025	£340k	£399k
31/08/2024	£429k	£386k
31/08/2023	£421k	£403k
31/08/2022	£461k	£419k
31/08/2021	£455k	£349k

Common questions

Is Spiritus Theological College financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net loss of £63,352 for the year ended 31 August 2025, resulting in a decrease in total funds from £460,899 to £397,547. The trustees consider the level of unrestricted reserves to be adequate to meet the charity's objectives and policy targets. Future losses are being mitigated through increased product development and diversification of income streams. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.

Funders of similar charities

Funders whose accounts show grants to charities similar to this one (and no recorded grant to this charity) — a starting list for fundraisers.

Funder	Similar charities funded	Amount to them
THE DURHAM DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE	1	£367k
THE BAPTIST UNION OF GREAT BRITAIN	1	£118k
THE JERUSALEM TRUST	1	£50k
THE LONDON BAPTIST ASSOCIATION	1	£36k
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF CHRIST CHURCH, CHORLEYWOOD	1	£17k
THE SOLA TRUST	1	£16k
THE ASHBURNHAM THANKSGIVING TRUST	1	£11k
THE S M B TRUST	1	£10k

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with LONDON SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY.

LONDON SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY income £2.8m
WESTMINSTER THEOLOGICAL CENTRE income £1.3m
LINDISFARNE COLLEGE OF THEOLOGY LTD income £369k
INSPIRE COUNSELLING AND TRAINING LIMITED income £65k
ALIVE IN THE SPIRIT income £55k
THE NFSH CHARITABLE TRUST LIMITED income £130k

Side by side with its peers

Charity	Income	Top pay band	Staff >£60k	Reserves vs policy	Fundraising cost	Going concern
Spiritus Theological College	£340k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
LONDON SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY FY2025	£2.8m	£80,001 - £90,000	4	above	—	no doubt
WESTMINSTER THEOLOGICAL CENTRE FY2025	£1.3m	—	0	below	—	no doubt
LINDISFARNE COLLEGE OF THEOLOGY LTD FY2025	£369k	—	0	below	—	no doubt
INSPIRE COUNSELLING AND TRAINING LIMITED FY2025	£65k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
ALIVE IN THE SPIRIT FY2025	£55k	—	—	below	—	no doubt

Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.