Churches Together in Britain and Ireland
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. Don't spend time on an approach; the similar funders below support the same kind of work.
Key takeaways
- The Ecumenical Fund suits ecumenical work carried out by one of the four national ecumenical instruments across Britain and Ireland, and the separate restricted women's leadership fund suits women's participation in ecumenism.
- The charity accepts applications by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited requests, so a small nonprofit should first build a relationship with the relevant instrument or the charity rather than send a cold application.
- Grants from the women's leadership fund are up to £1,000 towards travel or other costs, normally cover no more than 75% of total cost, and are open only to women normally resident in Britain or Ireland who belong to a member church or national instrument, with a sponsoring church or ecumenical body's support needed.
- The charity says it gives preference to women under forty and particularly encourages applications from women from minority ethnic communities and from women with limited access to funding, and the annual report shows £13,652 paid in total, so a modest request is the realistic scale.
Overview
Churches Together in Britain and Ireland is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 1113299).
Churches Together in Britain and Ireland is a registered charity whose mission is to support the churches of Britain and Ireland on their shared journey towards full visible unity in Christ. Its principal grant source is the designated Ecumenical Fund, which supports ecumenical work carried out by any of the four national ecumenical instruments in Britain and Ireland. A separate restricted fund makes grants to support women's leadership in ecumenism, and the annual report shows £13,652 paid in total.
What they fund
Priority Areas
CTBI's grants support ecumenical work carried out by the four national ecumenical instruments across Britain and Ireland, for both new and ongoing work, with applications assessed against its wider charitable and strategic objectives. A separate restricted fund supports women's leadership in ecumenism, including women's participation through attendance at ecumenical events, courses or study visits, and research. The organisation creates space for member churches to engage in dialogue and build relationships, and supports collaborative action on shared concerns through research, resources, theological reflection, communications and advocacy. It works in partnership with national ecumenical bodies and other partners to resource churches, agencies, networks and associated bodies.
Themes
- Ecumenical work
- Women's leadership in ecumenism
Geographic Focus
Britain and Ireland.
What they don't fund
- Pauline Webb Ecumenical Fund only:
- activities for which other financial support is available
- more than 75% of the total cost (normally)
- people who are not women
- people who are not normally resident in Britain or Ireland
- people who are not members of a church that is in membership of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, or one of the national ecumenical instruments
How to apply
For the Ecumenical Fund, the four national ecumenical instruments can apply for support for new or ongoing work; trustees assess applications in line with CTBI's wider charitable and strategic objectives.
What to send:
- Pauline Webb Ecumenical Fund
- Details of how they will use the experience gained to contribute to the promotion of ecumenism.
- Evidence of support from a sponsoring church or ecumenical body.
- The completed application form.
Application success factors
What the charity says:
- Preference is given to women under forty years old.
- The fund particularly encourages applications from women from minority ethnic communities in Britain and Ireland.
- It particularly encourages women working where limited access to funding and other resources restricts opportunities for engagement.
Where they fund
Where it says it funds
- Ireland
- United Kingdom
Similar funders
Funders supporting work similar to Churches Together in Britain and Ireland.
Grants
The largest grants to organisations in this funder’s latest annual report:
- Ascension Trust£7,516year to 31 December 2025
- National Christian Council of Sri Lanka£5,636year to 31 December 2025
- Society for Ecumenical Studies£500year to 31 December 2025
Grant examples taken from the funder’s filed accounts.
6 years of accounts
| Financial year | Income | Expenditure | Grants paid | Accounts document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| year to 31 December 2020 | £683,065 | £745,765 | £109,642 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2020 |
| year to 31 December 2021 | £544,047 | £479,172 | £23,750 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2021 |
| year to 31 December 2022 | £541,661 | £634,207 | £22,466 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2022 |
| year to 31 December 2023 | £557,910 | £676,259 | £25,675 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2023 |
| year to 31 December 2024 | £546,022 | £740,305 | £22,466 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2024 |
| year to 31 December 2025 | — | — | £13,652 | 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 paid out in the year.
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
- ctbi.org.uk
- ctbi.org.uk/resources/pauline-webb-ecumenical-fund · read on 30 October 2026
- ctbi.org.uk/how-we-work · read on 30 October 2026
- ctbi.org.uk/vision-and-mission · read on 30 October 2026
- ctbi.org.uk/general-enquiries · read on 30 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 30 October 2026.
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At a glance
Applying to Churches Together in Britain and Ireland?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- +44 (0)20 3794 2288source
- info@ctbi.org.uksource
- Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, Interchurch House, 35 Lower Marsh, London SE1 7RLsource
- ctbi.org.uk
Applying to Churches Together in Britain and Ireland?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- +44 (0)20 3794 2288source
- info@ctbi.org.uksource
- Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, Interchurch House, 35 Lower Marsh, London SE1 7RLsource
- ctbi.org.uk