Retirement housing for Baptist ministers - RBMHO at 50
Andy Hughes traces the history of the organisation, which was registered in September 1975 - and where it is now
In the years following WW2 there was a significant shortage of rented housing so it became normal for churches to purchase a manse for their minister to live in.
Unfortunately this frequently resulted in churches arguing that the stipend should be reduced as no rent was charged, and no thought was given about where ministers would live in retirement. Consequently many ministers continued in pastorate well past their retirement age as they had nowhere to live, which wasn't always good for them or the church.
Mrs Alice Cater recognised the need for retirement housing for ministers. In 1952 she converted her house in Billericay into three flats which became known as Green Pastures, and gave it to the Union as a residence for retired Baptist Ministers and their wives.
In 1966 the Baptist Men's Movement set up the Baptist Men's Movement Housing Association (BMMHA) in response to the continuing shortage of housing following the war. They often built on land beside Baptist churches with government funding. On occasions retired ministers rented a unit in one of these developments, but they were normally very small ('no space for a library') and the ministers found themselves as unofficial chaplains, which they didn't always appreciate.
The Union set up a Housing Retirement Fund to try and help, this enabled four retired ministers to buy a home with a minority of the capital coming from the fund. Upon the death of the minister and spouse the house was then owned entirely by the Union. The Union also had about 30 other properties which they rented to retired ministers.
In 1972 as the cost of property was rising rapidly the Baptist Union Council set up an ad hoc committee to look into the issue of housing ministers, both in pastorate and retired. The report recommended that ways be explored for ministers to own their own home, including raising stipend, and that the Union bought 30 more properties for immediate demand and noted that a further 150 properties would be needed.
At the time the Union bought no more than two properties a year and only £12,000 was available. In March 1974, Council endorsed the plan to create the Retired Baptist Ministers Housing Trust which would manage the current 30 properties, acquire more, co-ordinate schemes to enable ministers to own their homes, work with groups like the BMMHA to provide more housing for retired ministers and raise money to buy more properties.
In 1975 the Retired Baptist Ministers Housing Society (RBMHS) was registered. The first meeting of the management committee of the registered society under the chairmanship of the Union's solicitor Richard Fairburn, took place on 18 September 1975. Richard remained chair until March 1994 and under his leadership the Society took shape and grew. One of the first decisions taken was to sell Green Pastures, which by then needed significant maintenance work, and use the £25,000 released to buy more properties.
From the beginning RBMHS always worked on the basis of trying to house tenants where they wanted to live, which has meant buying to meet the need. An initial loan was taken out in 1976 of £19,000 to enable immediate need to be met, but for the first 25 years it was not necessary to borrow further as gifts from individuals, churches and associations, as well as legacies enabled the housing stock to increase to 163 homes by the beginning of 1999. Through the generosity of many, the rent charged to our tenants has always been significantly lower than market rent and normally below social rent levels and that remains the case today.
While initially RBMHS only housed Baptist Ministers and Deaconesses, in 1980 the decision was made to expand the work to include those who had served as Missionaries with BMS. We now house retired missionaries in some of our properties as well as managing a couple of BMS owned houses. We also remain grateful to HEBA who bought three houses at a time when RBMHS was unable to house all applicants, two of which still house our tenants.
The Society has seen exceptionally long service from both its chairs and managers. Richard Fairburn, Barry Wilmshurst and Bill Johnston between them chaired for the first 48 years, while Charles Clarke, Victor Payne, Paul Henstock and Stewart Green served as managers for the first 47 years.
In 2018 RBMHS became a CIO to enable us to help the Union with the Family Solution for the Baptist Ministers Pension Fund by providing security for a £20mn loan used to substantially reduce the deficit. The Retired Baptist Ministers Housing Organisation (RBMHO) continues the work started 50 years ago. The current General Manager is Andy Hughes working closely with our Property and Operations Manager Joe Cleaver who joined us two years ago. Our Co-chairs are Rachel Tole and Tim Walker.
We began this year with 250 properties, providing homes for 244 ministers / missionaries and / or their spouses. Our homes are spread across England, Wales, and Scotland, we even have a property in N Ireland.
We're currently going through a major programme of renovating our properties to bring them up to the standards now required and to ensure that our tenants live in good accommodation. Last year we spent just over £1.7m on this work and anticipate spending around £1.5m this year and the work will continue in 2026. We're doing all we can to improve the energy efficiency of our homes to keep costs down for our tenants and reduce their environmental impact.
We now wherever possible buy new builds as it should enable us to adapt to new forms of heating which require well insulated properties. In fact this year we completed the purchase of our first house with air source heating.
Demand for our housing continues for the foreseeable future. A recent survey showed that around 25 per cent of retiring ministers will need our help. The provision of a manse enables ministers to serve in areas of the country where housing is unaffordable for them, and also enables churches to pay a lower stipend than would be required if a minister was paying for their own housing.
However, it can still leave ministers homeless in retirement. It's very difficult to buy a property elsewhere and let it out in preparation for retirement, particularly for ministers who've started in ministry relatively early in their lives so don't already have a foot on the property ladder. Almost all buy to let mortgage providers expect you to own another house before they will lend for a rental.
As life expectancy and nursing home fees have gone up, relying on inheritances to fund a home in retirement is also problematic. The demand for social housing is extremely high, and a retiring minister is highly unlikely to qualify for it unless they remain in the area of their last pastorate, and then there's likely to be a never ending waiting list. Which leaves the private rental sector, which as many know only too well is highly competitive, very expensive, and provides no security as more and more landlords are selling up, due to changes in housing legislation and taxation.
As a charity we're extremely grateful for the support that RBMHS/O has received over the years and continues to receive today. None of our funding comes from Home Mission. We rely entirely on rental income and gifts from individuals and churches. As I travel the country and meet our tenants I frequently hear how much they value the place they are able to call home and the work of the charity. Read some of their appreciation below.
So if you've supported us in any way over the years, I pass on their thanks!
When Council in 1974 decided to do something to meet the needs of retired ministers facing the prospect of being homeless after a life of service, they probably didn't envisage that 50 years later it would have more than £40m of property, and be able to provide homes for so many people.
If you'd like to know more about our work, would like to support us, or you think you'll need our help but last year didn't fill in the survey of ministers and have not yet applied, please get in touch. Details can be found on our website rbmho.org.
Testimonies from tenants
'We are deeply grateful for the provision of our lovely home and for the practical support and advice we receive from the staff of the RBMHO. When we began our ministry in 1967, we never envisioned spending our retirement years in the beautiful region of South Devon. We remember with gratitude those who had the vision to provide housing for retired ministers. Happy 50th birthday to the RBMHO!'
David and Janet Coffey
'We thank God for the RBMHO for supplying our wonderful home. After years of serving with BMS World Mission and Baptists Together we now have a new home which we love.'
Kevin and Linda Donaghy
'I have now been retired for eleven years and I just love the little house, which is my home and I thank God and the RBMHO for my security and so much joy.'
Jennie Wakefield
Images |
Top - Kevin and Linda Donaghy when plot was reserved (Melton Mowbray)
Middle - Paul and June Stow (Leigh on Sea)
Baptist Times, 15/09/2025