Churches and charity law: where do things stand after the Preston Down Trust ruling?

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 I often meet leaders from churches and Christian charities who are wary of the Charity Commission, viewing it as an unsympathetic and perhaps secularist regulator....However, the law is clear that sharing the Christian faith is charitable in its own right, and the Charity Commission has worked hard to understand churches...

Christian Today 15 February 2014  |  Stephanie Biden

 

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1 thought on “Churches and charity law: where do things stand after the Preston Down Trust ruling?”

  1. This primarily a concern for independent churches. Anglican churches are accepted one way and churches in most denominations another. Individual churches have to register but the review of their activities lies with the denominational body rather than the Charity Commissioners. Here the provision of public worship and religious education are normally accepted as for the public benefit as log as they are open to outsiders. The Charity Commissioners do not judge between liberal or conservative, Jew or Sikh. They are more concerned with matters of personal benefit an organisation which ensure that funds are used for the purpose for which they were given.

    If a church fails to be accepted as a charity, it may still a trust. This means that tax advantages are lost. It may ultimately have to be wound up but this is not a forgone conclusion.

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