Congo Church Association

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £167,303 - £232,740 (recent years)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not specified
• Grant Range: Not publicly specified
• Geographic Focus: Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Contact Details

• Website: www.congochurchassn.org.uk
• Email: treasurer@congochurchassn.org.uk
• Phone: 07939 260179
• Treasurer: Mr. Paul Dickens
• Address: Hockliffe Grange, Hockliffe, Leighton Buzzard, Beds LU7 9NL

Overview

The Congo Church Association (CCA) was founded in 1982 as a UK-registered charity (number 285760) dedicated to supporting the Anglican Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo. With annual expenditure ranging from £123,471 to £219,171 in recent years and projected income growth to £232,740, the organization maintains a focused mission on advancing Christianity in the DRC while addressing urgent humanitarian needs. The CCA operates primarily as a grant-making organization, partnering exclusively with the Anglican Church of the Congo and its dioceses to deliver support across education, health, poverty relief, and community development. The organization has shown consistent financial stability with steady income growth over the past five years.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The CCA provides grants to Anglican dioceses in the DRC for critical projects determined by local needs. Funding is distributed through:

• Diocesan Grants: Financial support to individual dioceses for specific projects
• Clergy Support: Relief for Anglican clergy, former clergy, and their widows and dependents
• Emergency Response: Assistance for refugees and displaced persons in conflict zones
• Infrastructure Development: Church building repairs and construction projects
• Capacity Building: Training programs and equipment provision

Priority Areas

Core Funding Areas:

• Advancement of the Christian religion in the DRC
• Poverty relief for clergy and their families
• Support for refugees and internally displaced persons
• Peace and reconciliation initiatives in conflict zones
• Healthcare provision through Anglican health networks
• Education and theological training programs
• Economic and community development projects
• Infrastructure development for churches and community facilities

Recent Funded Projects (2020 examples):

• Boga Diocese: Assistance to displaced people who had fled to the area
• Bukavu Diocese: Funding for theological training
• Katanga Diocese: Repair of two severely damaged churches
• Kamango Diocese: Medical fees for vulnerable people and pastors in areas cut off due to insecurity
• Kisangani Diocese: Distribution of brick-making machines to over 50 parishes, enabling both church construction and income generation for young people

What They Don't Fund

• Projects outside the Democratic Republic of Congo
• Organizations not affiliated with the Anglican Church of the Congo
• Secular or non-Christian religious activities
• Direct individual applications (works only through diocesan structures)

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees (5 members):

• Rev. Peter Wyard - Trustee (appointed May 2025)
• Julia Elizabeth Dickens - Trustee (appointed October 2020)
• Martin Robert Jennings - Trustee (appointed October 2020)
• Rev. Matthew Grayshon - Trustee (appointed November 2017)
• Paul Michael John Dickens - Trustee and Treasurer

Key Partnership:

The CCA works in close partnership with the Province of the Anglican Church of the Congo, which has approximately 350,000 members across 13 dioceses in the DRC and one missionary diocese in Congo-Brazzaville. The organization also collaborates with the Semiliki Trust, which supports the Anglican Church's network of approximately 50 hospitals and health centres in eastern DRC.

Leadership Quote:

The Bishop of Kinshasa, Rt. Rev. Achille Mutshindu, has stated: “Our concern is to promote the education and training, both spiritual and social, of the faithful in our churches...”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Congo Church Association does not have a public application process. Grants are made through the CCA's established partnership with the Anglican Church of the Congo and are distributed to dioceses based on trustee decisions and identified needs within the Anglican network.

Funding decisions are made by the board of trustees, who work directly with Anglican diocesan leadership in the DRC to identify critical projects and allocate resources. The organization operates on an invitation-only basis, supporting pre-existing relationships within the Anglican communion.

Getting on Their Radar

This section is not applicable as the CCA operates exclusively through its formal partnership with the Anglican Church of the Congo. Organizations or individuals outside this Anglican network would not be eligible for funding.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Grants appear to be distributed annually to dioceses, with the charity's financial year ending on June 30th. Decisions are made by the board of trustees based on ongoing communication with diocesan leadership in the DRC.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The organization does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as there is no public application process.

Application Success Factors

For Anglican Dioceses in the DRC:

Given that the CCA operates exclusively within the Anglican Church of the Congo structure, success in securing funding appears to depend on:

1. Clear Articulation of Need: Based on funded projects, the CCA responds to clearly identified local needs - whether humanitarian crises (displaced persons), infrastructure damage, or capacity-building opportunities.

1. Alignment with CCA's Mission: Projects should advance one or more of the four core objectives: advancing Christianity in the DRC, relieving poverty (especially among clergy), supporting refugees/displaced persons, or promoting peace, reconciliation, health, education, and community development.

1. Practical Impact: The 2020 grants demonstrate preference for projects with tangible outcomes - repairing churches, providing medical care, distributing equipment, or funding training programs.

1. Dual Benefit Projects: The Kisangani brick-making machine project illustrates the CCA's interest in initiatives that serve both spiritual goals (church building) and social/economic development (income generation for youth).

1. Response to Conflict and Insecurity: Multiple funded projects addressed needs arising from conflict and displacement, suggesting the CCA prioritizes emergency response in addition to development work.

1. Diocesan Coordination: Grants are distributed through diocesan structures, so effective communication between local Anglican leadership and the CCA trustees is essential.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This funder is not accessible to the general public - only Anglican dioceses in the DRC are eligible for support
• Partnership-driven: The CCA operates through a long-term partnership with the Anglican Church of the Congo, established since 1982
• Modest but stable funding: With annual expenditure of £123k-£219k, the organization provides targeted support rather than large-scale grants
• Holistic approach: Funding addresses both spiritual mission (theological training, church building) and humanitarian needs (healthcare, refugee support, economic development)
• Context-sensitive: Recent grants show responsiveness to conflict situations and displacement crises in eastern DRC
• Multiple benefit projects favored: Projects combining church development with community economic benefit (like the brick-making machines) align with the CCA's integrated mission
• Long-term relationship focus: The CCA works exclusively with established Anglican Church structures rather than individual organizations or new partnerships

References

1. UK Charity Commission - Congo Church Association (charity 285760), “What, who, how and where” page.. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/285760/what-who-how-where

1. UK Charity Commission - Congo Church Association financial history.. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/sector-data/top-10-charities/-/charity-details/285760/financial-history

1. UK Charity Commission - Congo Church Association trustees.. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/285760/trustees

1. Congo Church Association official website.. https://www.congochurchassn.org.uk/

1. Congo Church Association - Links page.. https://www.congochurchassn.org.uk/links/

1. Congo Church Association - History page.. https://www.congochurchassn.org.uk/history/

1. Diocese of Oxford - DR Congo Appeal.. https://www.oxford.anglican.org/campaigns/congo-appeal/ (Quote from Bishop Achille Mutshindu and 2020 grant examples)

1. Stewardship - Congo Church Association partner page.. https://www.stewardship.org.uk/partners/20029717