Bethesda / News & Announcements

News and Announcements 

Welcome to the Bethesda news and announcements page. Here we will post news and items of interest to our friends and supporters

  • 1 Sep 2025

    The trustees would like to take this opportunity to inform those with an interest in the work and future prosperity of Bethesda of the following:

    Adrian Topping

    After many years of loyal service, Adrian Topping (General Manager), in the Lord’s purposes, will be taking up new employment within the Christian care sector in October 2025.

    Adrian has served Bethesda during a number of challenging times, including the effect of the decline in the GS congregations on occupancy within the Homes, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the wellbeing of residents and staff and sadly, more recently, the closure of both the Studley and Harpenden Bethesda Homes, as well as the Redhill flatlets.

    Words cannot fully express Adrian’s contribution and love for the work of Bethesda. We would wish Adrian and his family the Lord’s blessing in the pathway before them.

  • 19 Aug 2025
    It is with sadness that we announce that after 56 years of service to the Lord and His people the provision at Bethesda, Harpenden has now closed, with the final resident being safely resettled in the Bethesda Home and Brighton on Wednesday, 13 August.
    The building remains open, by appointment, to visitors between the hours of 08:00 and 15:00 Monday to Friday. For appointments please call 01582 761359. 

    The Trustees continue to look to the Lord in seeking His will and direction for the future provision of Bethesda to those in old age within the GS chapels. 
  • 17 Jun 2025
    The trustees have felt it necessary to publish a Position Statement: Harpenden Bethesda Home Closure Process to help inform supporters and other interested parties regarding what is involved in managing the closure of the Harpenden Bethesda Home.
     
  • 20 May 2025

    It is with a heavy heart that the trustees have written the attached Position Statement: Closure
    of Harpenden Bethesda Home
    - yet, in the Lord’s sovereign purposes, we venture to continue
    trusting in His Name.

  • 10 Apr 2025
    We are please to present our Spring 2025 newsletter here for your consideration and trust that this will be of interest to you.
  • 28 Mar 2025
    The trustees would thank everyone who has responded to the wider consultation on the proposal to close the Harpenden Bethesda Home. We are in the process of acknowledging the responses received and are now undertaking a detailed analysis of this feedback.
     
    Where common themes are identified, we will continue to produce Position Statements to address the points raised and publish these on the Consultation Feedback webpage on the GSBF website.
     
    Do please pray the Lord will go before all those who are currently walking through this pathway
  • 11 Mar 2025
    In November 2024, the trustees wrote to supporters setting out the challenges that have been faced by current and previous Bethesda trustees over the past 50 years. 
    Click here for the November 2024    information
     
    Since that time, the trustees have continued to prayerfully seek the Lord’s will for Bethesda, in particular the future of the Harpenden Bethesda Home.
     
    At the beginning of 2025, the Lord hedged up the way of the trustees so that in February 2025, with heaviness of heart they began, following the decision to consult on the closure of the Harpenden Bethesda Home, to make the necessary preparations so this process could start in the working week beginning Monday 3rd March 2025.
     
    The Trustees have prepared a letter to supporters that sets out the background to the current consultation on the closure of the Harpenden Bethesda Home.
    Click here for this letter.
     
    The document setting out the business case for closure of the Harpenden Home provides more detailed information and is here
     
    We would welcome feedback on the proposals made together with receiving any thoughts on other viable options that trustees could consider. If you do wish to submit feedback to the trustees, please email your responses to trustees@gsbf.uk by Friday 21st March 2025.
     
    Do pray especially for the residents at this time together with their relatives, Powers of Attorney, the Home Manager, staff, Home Support Group members and the trustees.
     
     
     
  • 19 Feb 2025
    In November 2024, the GSBF trustees circulated two documents to supporters of the Charity. The first document was a letter setting out in detail the challenges facing Bethesda, at the current time, and their impact upon the Charity. The letter also made reference to challenges faced by previous trustees over the past 50 years. A copy of the letter can be found by clicking here.

    The second document is a copy of the Chairman's address given at the GSBF Annual Meeting Saturday, 5 October 2024. The address provided a reflection on the issues faced by the trustees and those managing the Bethesda homes. The document also includes an analysis of the Charity's financial situation over the past 10 years and a more detailed analysis of the operation of the Bethesda Homes over the past five years. A copy of the address can be found by clicking here.
  • 23 Sep 2024
  • 9 Apr 2024
    For the latest news on the Brighton and Hove Home, please see the newsletter here.

     
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