Church investigated over 'unaccounted-for' £290k

The church and community hall is located in Bellevue Road, off London Road, in central Southampton

A Southampton church is being investigated over almost £300,000 potentially being unaccounted for.

The Charity Commission said it had launched a statutory inquiry into Edmund Kell Unitarian Church and Elizabeth Kell Community Hall over financial and safeguarding concerns.

The inquiry will examine trustees' governance and management of the charity and the organisation's safeguarding arrangements.

The church has been contacted for comment.

The church and adjoining community hall is located in Bellevue Road, off London Road, in central Southampton.

In a statement the Charity Commission said it had ben engaging with the charity in April 2025 after receiving an application from its trustees to change the charity's structure.

During this process, the independent regulator identified concerns around the charity's governance and administration.

The commission said a review of the charity's accounts and investment portfolio was subsequently carried out.

"This raised concerns that funds initially estimated as in the region of £290,000 may be unaccounted for," it added.

The commission also said it had concerns in relation to safeguarding at the charity and "potentially unmanaged risks" relating to a connected individual.

The Charity Commission is investigating any potential loss or misappropriation of the charity's funds

The investigation will look into the charity's financial management, including whether there has been any loss or misappropriation of the charity's funds, as well as examining its safeguarding arrangements.

The charity is an excepted charity, meaning that it does not require registration with the Charity Commission. As such, it is not listed on the Register of Charities.

On its Facebook page, the church describes itself as a "compassionate, inclusive, spiritually diverse, faith community".