WEBA's two Trust Companies deal with all matters relating to church property. The first point of contact, if you have any questions about church buildings, is our Trust Manager Rob English.
You can contact him at rob.english@webassoc.org.uk
or on 07534 513941
Rob normally works from home but will usually be in the WEBA office on Thursday mornings.

Why we have Trust Companies
Churches are not allowed by law to hold property in their own name. They need to appoint trustees who then hold the trust deeds and take on certain legal responsibilities.

Finding volunteers with the necessary qualifications and experience became a problem for Baptist Churches as far back as 1891. In that year the Baptist Union Corporation was formed, which would take on this legal role on behalf of churches. Several regional trust companies were founded in the years that follow, including the forerunners of the two trust companies which now serve the WEBA region and operate from the WEBA office: West of England Baptist Trust Company (East) Ltd, and West of England Baptist Trust Company (West) Ltd.

These two companies hold the deeds of most WEBA churches, and offer help and advice in legal, trust, practical, and charity matters, and with property transactions and redevelopments.

It's important that churches whose property deeds are held by these companies contact the Trust Manager at an early stage when planning any sales, purchases, letting of church property, alterations or building works, as it is the company's responsibility to ensure that the church is complying with their own trust deeds and with the Charities Act.


Read more about the Trust Companies in our Church Administration Section.

Please feel free to contact us, we are only too pleased to help...