Stewards Company Ltd

When missionaries had gone overseas from the United Kingdom many of them established hospitals, schools and church buildings. To provide for continuity of ownership after the missionaries had returned to the UK, Stewards Company Limited was established in 1898 for the purpose of holding these properties in trust. Over the decades the majority of these properties have been transferred to trusts established in the countries where they are located.

In 1964 the late Sir John Laing, who was a director of the Company, invited the Board to take over the administration of The J.W. Laing Trust and The J.W. Laing Biblical Scholarship Trust of which he was the settlor. A committee of Directors was formed to take responsibility for the administration of these trusts. The Company also administers a number of smaller trusts.