Congregation Of Priests Of The Sacred Heart Of Jesus Of Betharram
Charity 233335
Overview
Summary
The available evidence suggests that this is a religious congregation charity with a deliberately broad mandate: it supports the English Province’s religious and charitable work while retaining scope to direct resources to other Roman Catholic purposes if the congregation’s local work ceases. Its role appears to combine faith-based mission stewardship with practical public benefit, spanning health, overseas relief, direct assistance and advice. The evidence does not yet show whether it mainly delivers services itself, funds others, or acts through affiliated ministries.
Operational geography
Coverage: International
Operational areas:
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Remaining uncertainties
- The Charity Commission’s current record states that the charity operates in Birmingham City, but it does not identify a Birmingham service, property, parish, partner, ward or neighbourhood. This supports a city-level connection but does not identify a permitted Birmingham ward or recognised place.
- The congregation’s official current directory identifies its English communities at Olton in Solihull, Droitwich, Nottingham and Clayton, rather than at a Birmingham address. Olton is within the Archdiocese of Birmingham but is outside Birmingham City.
- Historic evidence links Betharram priests to Holy Name parish in Great Barr and Ss John and Martin parish in Balsall Heath, but current diocesan records identify non-Betharram clergy at Holy Name. Historic stewardship is therefore not treated as evidence of current operations in those areas.
- A Betharram vocation weekend took place at the Dupuis Retreat Centre in Selly Park in June 2024. This was a time-limited event rather than sufficient evidence of a continuing Birmingham operational site or neighbourhood presence.
- Olton Friary’s current fundraising information records support for St Basils, which works with young people experiencing homelessness in Birmingham and surrounding areas. However, the available evidence does not establish whether this support is delivered by charity 233335 itself, its associated parish, or individual parishioners, nor identify Birmingham locations reached through the partnership.
Additional evidence needed
- The charity’s latest trustees’ annual report or a current activity statement identifying the Birmingham services, grants, pastoral work or properties reported to the Charity Commission.
- Confirmation from the congregation or Charity Commission of any current Birmingham delivery location, parish appointment, owned/leased property or recurring programme.
- Current documentation defining the scope and mechanism of the relationship with St Basils or any other Birmingham-based delivery partner.
Areas of work
- Overseas Aid/famine Relief
- Religious Activities
- The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives
Who they help
- The General Public/mankind
How they help
- Makes Grants To Individuals
- Provides Advocacy/advice/information
- Provides Services
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
A mission with built-in continuity planning
The charity’s objects appear designed not only to support the congregation’s current English Province, but also to preserve the charitable use of its assets if that provincial presence ends. This may indicate an institution managing a long-term religious legacy rather than a narrowly time-limited programme.
Why it matters
This helps explain why its objects are broader than a single service area: the charity may be structured to sustain a mission and resources across organisational change.
Show evidence
“The objects advance the religious and other charitable work of the English Province of Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Betharram.”
Source:Charity Commission“If the congregation ceases to exist or carry on charitable work in the province, the trustees may apply funds to other lawful charitable purposes connected with the advancement of the Roman Catholic religion.”
Source:Charity Commission
Faith-based infrastructure with a wider public-facing reach
Although religious advancement is central, the reported activities suggest the organisation’s charitable role may extend beyond worship or internal congregational support into health, overseas relief and practical support for the public.
Why it matters
It positions the organisation as a possible bridge between Catholic institutional networks and wider humanitarian or care needs, rather than solely a religious body.
Show evidence
“The charity works in the advancement of health or saving of lives, overseas aid/famine relief and religious activities.”
Source:Charity Commission“The charity helps the general public/mankind.”
Source:Charity Commission
A potentially mixed operating model
The combination of grants to individuals, service provision and advocacy/advice suggests the charity may use several routes to create benefit, rather than relying exclusively on one delivery model.
Why it matters
This raises useful questions about whether the congregation connects pastoral, financial and practical support—and whether these functions are integrated or separate strands of work.
Show evidence
“The charity makes grants to individuals.”
Source:Charity Commission“The charity provides services and provides advocacy/advice/information.”
Source:Charity Commission
- Which health, relief or religious activities are delivered directly, funded through grants, or undertaken by partners.
- Where the charity operates and how its English Province relates to its overseas-aid activity.
- Which communities receive grants, services or advice, and whether support is primarily pastoral, emergency or long-term.
Remaining uncertainties
- Recent annual reports and accounts showing expenditure, grants, projects and delivery partners.
- Information on the English Province’s ministries, locations, affiliated organisations and current priorities.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
To advance religious and other charitable work.
Charity objects
SUCH CHARITABLE PURPOSES AS SHALL ADVANCE THE RELIGIOUS AND OTHER CHARITABLE WORK OF THE ENGLISH PROVINCE OF PRIESTS OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS OF BETHARRAM AS THE TRUSTEES WITH HE APPROVAL OF THE SUPERIOR SHALL FROM TIME TO TIME THINK FIT AND IF AT ANY TIME THE CONGREGATION OF PRIESTS OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS OF BETHARRAM SHALL CEASE TO EXIST OR SHALL CEASE TO CARRY ON RELIGIOUS OR OTHER LAWFUL CHARITABLE WORK IN SUCH PROVINCE THEN FOR SUCH OTHER LAWFUL CHARITABLE PURPOSES CONNECTED WITH THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC RELIGION AS THE TRUSTEES SHALL DETERMINE.