Harpenden Closure - Position Statements 

This page contains links to Position Statements that have been written to clarify aspects of the “Consultation on the closure of the Harpenden Bethesda Home” (March 2025) and the subsequent decision by the trustees, taken with a heavy heart and in the fear of the Lord, to close the Harpenden Bethesda Home on Friday, 26 September 2025.

The Position Statements were published to address common themes emerging from consultation feedback and provide background to subsequent events, the statements in publication order are as follows:
 
Position Statement: Alternative Care Provision in Chalton, Bedfordshire 
This statement clarifies the position regarding, at the time, the status of the property that the trustees, if it were the Lord’s will, had identified as an alternative care provision for those residents wishing to remain in the Luton area.
 
Note: In the Lord’s purposes, this endeavour was overturned and is no longer an available option.
 
Position Statement: Consultation on the proposal to close the Harpenden Bethesda Home
This statement sought to clarify the purpose and relationship of the three different consultations that took place in order to help inform the trustees’ understanding before making any decision relating to the future of the Harpenden Bethesda Home.
 
The three different consultations that took place were:

• The legally required staff consultation.

• Consultations with the residents and their representatives.

• A wider consultation with supporters and other interested parties.

 
Position Statement: Entry Criteria for Admission to the Bethesda Homes
This statement was published in response to views expressed regarding widening Bethesda’s entry criteria to include other reformed congregations. The statement reaffirms Bethesda’s charitable objectives and how the trustees endeavour to fulfil these and remain faithful to the original purposes of the Charity.
 
Position Statement: Closure of the Harpenden Bethesda Home
This statement was written with a heavy heart by the Gospel Standard Bethesda Fund trustees as it sets out a path that they have walked through relating to the closure of the Harpenden Bethesda Home, yet trusting that this has been undertaken in the fear of and submission to the Lord who knows and has known, from all eternity, each and every event upon this earth.
 
Position Statement: Harpenden Bethesda Home Closure Process
This statement has been produced to help inform supporters and other interested parties about what has been involved in the Harpenden Bethesda Home closure process, the progress being made and the implications this has had on the operation of Bethesda.
 
Although it has been identified in the Position Statement that “Closure of a care home under any circumstances is an involved process to manage”, there is a need to remember that there are individuals involved, with their feelings, concerns and anxieties.
 
There is also a reminder in the statement “Please pray and commit into the Lord’s keeping the residents, their powers of attorney, the staff, Home Management teams and the General Manager in this trying and unknown way”.