Catholic Charitable Trust

Charity Number: 215553

Annual Expenditure: £0.1M
Geographic Focus: Switzerland, United States, Throughout England And Wales

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £143,000 (2024 expenditure)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly available
  • Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
  • Geographic Focus: England and Wales, Switzerland, and United States
  • Established: 1964

Contact Details

Address:

c/o Hunters Law LLP

9 New Square

London WC2A 3QN

Email: Wilfrid.Vernor-Miles@hunterslaw.com

Phone: 020 7412 0050

Overview

The Catholic Charitable Trust was founded on 4 May 1964 and is dedicated to the advancement of the Roman Catholic Church, with a particular focus on traditional teachings and practices as they were taught and accepted before the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). With an annual expenditure of approximately £143,000 (2024), the trust operates as a grant-making organization supporting religious activities in England and Wales, as well as in Switzerland and the United States. The charity has no employees and is governed by four trustees, none of whom receive remuneration. The trust's work centers on preserving and promoting pre-Vatican II Catholic liturgy, devotions, and doctrines, making it a significant funder within the traditional Catholic movement in the UK and internationally.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Catholic Charitable Trust operates through trustee-directed grant-making. There are no named grant programs or publicly advertised funding streams. Grants are made to organizations and causes that support traditional Catholic practices.

Priority Areas

  • Traditional Catholic liturgy: Support for organizations and activities that maintain pre-Vatican II forms of worship, including the Traditional Latin Mass
  • Religious education: Funding for catechesis and education in accordance with traditional Catholic teachings
  • Religious services and activities: Support for the holding of religious services following traditional forms
  • Catholic organizations: Grants to charities and voluntary bodies that advance traditional Catholic faith and practice
  • International Catholic causes: Support for traditional Catholic activities across England, Wales, Switzerland, and the United States

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly documented, given the trust's specific focus on traditional pre-Vatican II Catholicism, funding is unlikely for:

  • Projects not aligned with traditional Catholic teachings and practices
  • Non-Catholic religious activities
  • Organizations that do not adhere to pre-Vatican II liturgy and doctrine
  • General charitable work without a traditional Catholic component
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Governance and Leadership

The Catholic Charitable Trust is governed by four trustees:

  • Mr. John Crosfield Vernor-Miles (President)
  • Mr. Wilfrid Edward Vernor-Miles (Trustee and legal contact)
  • David Peter Orr (Trustee)
  • Jennifer Frances Vernor-Miles (Trustee)

Wilfrid Edward Vernor-Miles is a partner at Hunters Law LLP and advises charities on all aspects of regulation and administration. He serves as a trustee of 15 national, international, and grant-making charities, with particular expertise in supporting religious orders, educational charities, and grant-making charitable trusts.

No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity, ensuring that funds are directed entirely toward the trust's charitable purposes.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Catholic Charitable Trust does not have a public application process. Grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees, typically to organizations and causes they have identified through their networks within the traditional Catholic community. The trust does not accept unsolicited applications through an open application portal or published application guidelines.

Grants appear to be made to organizations already known to the trustees or those operating within the traditional Catholic movement in the UK, United States, and Switzerland.

Getting on Their Radar

Given the trust's focus on traditional Catholic organizations and the trustees' connections within this community, organizations seeking support might consider:

  • Connections within the traditional Catholic community: The trustees have extensive networks within organizations supporting pre-Vatican II practices, including traditional Latin Mass communities and educational institutions focused on traditional Catholic formation
  • Demonstrated commitment to traditional Catholicism: Organizations should have a clear track record of supporting traditional Catholic liturgy, teachings, and practices as they existed before the Second Vatican Council
  • Geographic presence: The trust supports work in England, Wales, Switzerland, and the United States, so organizations operating in these regions may be more likely to come to the trustees' attention

Note: This information is based on the trust's structure and focus. There is no guarantee that building visibility within these networks will result in funding, as all grants remain at the trustees' discretion.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available, as grants are made at trustee discretion rather than through scheduled funding rounds.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The trust does not publish information about the number of grants made or organizations supported.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as there is no public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since the Catholic Charitable Trust does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional “application success factors” do not apply. However, organizations that have received funding typically share these characteristics:

  • Alignment with traditional Catholicism: Organizations must demonstrate a clear commitment to pre-Vatican II Catholic teachings, liturgy, and practices
  • Established presence in the traditional Catholic community: Recipients are typically well-known within traditional Catholic networks in the UK, US, or Switzerland
  • Religious focus: The trust's stated purpose is “the furtherance of the Roman Catholic faith” with emphasis on traditional practices
  • Organizational credibility: As with most discretionary grant-making trusts, recipients likely need to demonstrate sound governance, financial management, and a track record of effective work

Organizations working in areas such as traditional Catholic education, support for the Traditional Latin Mass, preservation of pre-Vatican II liturgical practices, and traditional Catholic catechesis are most likely to align with the trust's mission.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process: This trust awards grants at trustee discretion and does not accept unsolicited applications
  • Highly specific focus: The trust supports only traditional pre-Vatican II Catholic causes, making it unsuitable for mainstream Catholic organizations or those following post-Vatican II reforms
  • International scope: While UK-based, the trust also supports work in Switzerland and the United States
  • Small, focused operation: With four trustees and no staff, this is a tightly-run operation focused on specific causes within the trustees' networks
  • Connection-based funding: Organizations seeking support would need to be known within traditional Catholic circles and likely require connections to the trustees or their networks
  • Financial stability: Despite exceeding income with expenditure in recent years (£143,000 spent vs. £112,000 income in 2024), the trust continues active grant-making
  • Contact through legal advisors: All inquiries should be directed to Wilfrid Vernor-Miles at Hunters Law LLP, though there is no guarantee of response to funding inquiries

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