Erskine Muton Trust Fund

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £291,724 (2024)
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £10,000
• Decision Time: Three funding rounds per year
• Geographic Focus: Dorset only
• Accepts Unsolicited Applications: Yes

Contact Details

Address: Yarmouth House, 1300 Parkway, Solent Business Park, Whiteley, PO15 7AX

Phone: 023 8212 2700 / 02380 72 2228

Email: charitabletrusts@ludlowtrust.com

Trustee Administrator: Ludlow Trust Company (Southampton) Ltd

Diocesan Contact: Elizabeth Wallis, Trust and Property Registration Officer, Diocese of Salisbury

Overview

The Erskine Muton Trust Fund was established in 2009 following a bequest from Mrs. Nadia Muton, who together with her late husband Erskine Muton, retired to west Dorset. Born in Russia, Nadia escaped with her family before the 1918-19 Revolution by walking to China. Having witnessed many churches being destroyed during this tumultuous period, she resolved to leave money for the upkeep of churches. The trust is registered as a charity (number 1130199) with total income of £186,538 and expenditure of £291,724 in 2024. The fund's specific mission is to further the religious and other charitable work of the Church of England as carried out in churches in Dorset, with the exception of St Peter's Church, Eype.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Church Building Repairs and Maintenance: £1,000 - £10,000
• Applications considered three times per year
• Fixed application deadlines
• Grants cover a proportion of total project costs (not full funding)

Priority Areas

The Trustees' priority is funding:

• Repairs to church buildings
• Maintenance of church buildings
• Development of church buildings

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be a Church of England church in Dorset (excluding St Peter's Church, Eype)
• Must be open for regular public worship
• Must be located within the county boundary of Dorset

What They Don't Fund

• Retrospective applications (work already completed)
• Projects that could be covered by PCC reserves
• Repeat grants for the same project (except in exceptional circumstances)
• “Out of committee” applications outside the regular funding rounds
• Churches outside Dorset
• St Peter's Church, Eype

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Governance and Leadership

Trustee: Ludlow Trust Company (Southampton) Ltd (Corporate Trustee)

The charity is managed by a single corporate trustee which ensures professional trust management. No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The trust operates with established policies including complaints handling, risk management, safeguarding, and financial controls.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are made through the Diocese of Salisbury's process:

1. Start a Faculty System Application: Applicants must have started the online Faculty System application before applying to the trust
2. Complete Application Form: Download and complete the application form available from the Diocese of Salisbury website
3. Submit by Deadline: Applications must be submitted by one of the three annual deadlines

Application Deadlines:

• 27 February
• 3 July
• 2 October

Decision Timeline

• Grant Rounds: Three times per year (following the deadlines above)
• Grant Allocations: Made on the recommendation of a diocesan review committee
• Payment: Grants are paid subject to necessary statutory approvals (including Faculty approval)

Reapplication Policy

• Unsuccessful applicants may reapply in subsequent funding rounds
• Repeat grants for the same project are generally not awarded except in exceptional circumstances
• No retrospective applications are accepted

Application Success Factors

Critical Requirements:

• Must have started Faculty System application: This is a prerequisite for trust applications, demonstrating the project has proper ecclesiastical approval processes underway
• Proportion not full funding: The trust explicitly states grants cover “a proportion of the total cost of the works,” so applications should demonstrate other funding sources
• Cannot rely on PCC reserves: The trustees will not allocate funds for projects that could reasonably be covered by Parochial Church Council reserves, so applications should explain why additional funding is needed

Strategic Considerations:

• The trust's founding story is rooted in preservation - Mrs. Nadia Muton witnessed church destruction in Russia and resolved to preserve churches. Applications that emphasize preservation and maintenance of historic church buildings align with this core mission
• The trust focuses specifically on buildings “open for regular public worship,” so demonstrating active use and community engagement strengthens applications
• Given the restriction on repeat grants for the same project, ensure applications are comprehensive and request appropriate amounts for complete phases of work

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Dorset only: This trust exclusively funds Church of England churches within Dorset's county boundary (excluding St Peter's Church, Eype)
• Building focus: Grants are specifically for church building repairs, maintenance, and development - not for general church activities or operational costs
• Faculty requirement: You must have started the Faculty System application before applying - this is non-negotiable
• Partial funding model: Plan for the trust to cover only part of your project costs and demonstrate other funding sources
• Three opportunities per year: With fixed deadlines in February, July, and October, plan your application timeline accordingly
• No retrospective funding: Apply before starting work, not after completion
• PCC reserves matter: Be prepared to explain why the project cannot be funded from existing church reserves

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• TALBOT VILLAGE TRUST
• THE VALENTINE CHARITABLE TRUST
• Gloucestershire Historic Churches Trust
• Dorset Community Foundation
• The Dorset Historic Churches Trust
• The Elmgrant Trust
• Shaftesbury Trinity Centre Trust
• The Ralph and Irma Sperring Charity
• Friends of Essex Churches Trust
• The Temple Ecclesiastical Charity

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities, “ERSKINE MUTON TRUST FUND - 1130199,” https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/4046165/full-print
• Diocese of Salisbury, “The Erskine Muton Trust Fund,” https://www.salisbury.anglican.org/supportforparishes/fundraisingtoolkit/the-erskine-muton-trust-fund
• Charity Commission financial data for charity 1130199, year ending 05 April 2024