Board of Finance
At a glance
Key takeaways
- Its stated purpose is to promote and assist the Church of England in the Diocese of Bath and Wells, and its giving is directed to church bodies and projects advancing ministry and local mission, so a project with no link to that work is unlikely to fit.
- Its diocesan guidance describes small grants for starting missional activities and for establishing and sustaining local missional growth, so a modest, specific request suits it best, though no grant range is stated.
- No application process is published in its annual report, register entry or website, so the sensible first step is to contact the listed contact to ask how to apply and whether your project fits before you write a full proposal.
- Its published information does not say how competitive its grants are or when it decides, so ask about timing at that first contact.
Overview
Board of Finance is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 249398).
The Board of Finance is a charity registered in England and Wales that exists to promote and assist the work of the Church of England in the Diocese of Bath and Wells. It acts as the financial executive of the Bath and Wells Diocesan Synod and was incorporated as a company limited by guarantee. Its grants go to the national church to cover part of its central costs and to cover the cost of training for ministry, and also to other connected charities and charitable projects that further its objects. It awarded £990,000 in its most recent annual report.
What they fund
Priority Areas
The Board makes grants in pursuance of its objects: promoting and assisting the work and purposes of the Church of England in the Diocese of Bath and Wells. Its grants contribute to the national church's central costs and training for ministry, and also go to connected charities and charitable projects that further those objects. Its diocesan grant information describes small grants helping churches start missional activities and grants helping churches establish and sustain local missional growth. The same guidance signposts grants for practical net-zero-carbon projects, accessibility and inclusion, and church building repairs and improvements, including schemes from the national Church. Its giving is directed to church bodies and projects advancing ministry and local mission, alongside national church costs and training.
Themes
- Missional activity
- Ministry training
Geographic Focus
Priority: Diocese Of Bath And Wells.
How to apply
No application process is published in the charity's annual report, its register entry or its website. The contact shown is for getting in touch.
Where they fund
Where it says it funds
Similar funders
Funders supporting work similar to Board of Finance.
Grants
The largest grants to organisations in this funder’s latest annual report:
- Archbishops' Council, General Synod, etc.£230,000year to 31 December 2025
- CHARM£167,000year to 31 December 2025
- PCCs£153,000year to 31 December 2025
Grant examples taken from the funder’s filed accounts. Not included above: 3 grants to individuals; 3 with no named recipient.
6 years of accounts
| Financial year | Income | Expenditure | Grants paid | Accounts document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| year to 31 December 2020 | £13,712,000 | £15,909,000 | £1,172,000 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2020 |
| year to 31 December 2021 | £12,132,000 | £15,576,000 | £1,218,000 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2021 |
| year to 31 December 2022 | £15,289,000 | £15,157,000 | £1,431,000 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2022 |
| year to 31 December 2023 | £15,601,000 | £15,124,000 | £862,000 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2023 |
| year to 31 December 2024 | £17,001,000 | £14,859,000 | £855,000 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2024 |
| year to 31 December 2025 | — | — | £990,000 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2025 |
Income vs grants paid
IncomeGrants paid
Total value each financial year
Grants paid stayed within income across the 5 years shown.
- Grants paid, year to 31 December 2020; year to 31 December 2021; year to 31 December 2022; year to 31 December 2023; year to 31 December 2024: grants to institutions, as reported on the charity register (Part B).
- Grants paid, year to 31 December 2025: grants awarded in the year, as reported in the accounts.
Figures from the charity’s filed accounts and its register entry. The document icon links to the charity’s entry on the Charity Commission register, where its filed accounts can be found.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
- bathandwells.org.uk/parish-support/giving-and-grants/grants · read on 23 October 2026
- bathandwells.org.uk/who-we-are/board-of-finance · read on 23 October 2026
- bathandwells.org.uk/contact-us · read on 23 October 2026
- Annual report (year to 31 December 2025)
This profile draws on the funder’s own website as well as its filed accounts.
Sources last checked on 23 October 2026.
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At a glance
Applying to Board of Finance?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- 01749 670777source
- Diocese of Bath and Wells, Flourish House, Cathedral Park, Wells, Somerset BA5 1FDsource
- bathandwells.org.uk/who-we-are/board-of-finance
Applying to Board of Finance?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- 01749 670777source
- Diocese of Bath and Wells, Flourish House, Cathedral Park, Wells, Somerset BA5 1FDsource
- bathandwells.org.uk/who-we-are/board-of-finance