Free Churches Group

Registered charity 236878 · since 1965freechurches.org.uk·England, Wales·Updated 29 October 2026

At a glance

£1,383

Annual giving, year to 31 December 2025

From filed accounts

Key takeaways

Free Churches Group fits best if your work is church-based, chaplaincy-related or ecumenical, since its stated focus is its member church denominations, chaplaincy in prisons, healthcare and the armed forces, and faith in education.
Its priority is England and Wales.
Its annual giving was £1,383 according to its annual report, so a modest request is more realistic than a large one, and no typical grant size is stated.
No application process is published, so the sensible first step is to use the contact shown to get in touch and ask whether your work fits before sending a formal request.
Grants are made at the directors' discretion, so there is no set route to rely on.

Overview

Free Churches Group is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 236878).

Free Churches Group is a charity registered in England and Wales whose principal object is the advancement of the Christian religion. It supports its member church denominations in their mission across England and Wales and funds ecumenical work carried out nationally on behalf of the churches. It also makes grants on behalf of the Department of Health to members of the Healthcare Chaplaincy Faith and Belief Group. Its annual giving was £1,383 according to its annual report.

What they fund

Priority Areas

The foundation’s grants support its member church denominations in their mission across England and Wales, and support various work carried out by organisations on behalf of the churches on an ecumenical basis nationally. It also makes grants on behalf of the Department of Health to members of the Healthcare Chaplaincy Faith and Belief Group. More broadly, its object is the advancement of the Christian religion, and the Free Churches Group describes itself as promoting faithful Christian witness in the public square. Its stated focus includes chaplaincy in prisons, healthcare and the armed forces, and faith in education. Its approach brings member denominations together through fellowship, shared counsel and working together, while recognising each member’s distinctive witness and mission.

Themes

Christian mission
Chaplaincy
Ecumenical church work

Geographic Focus

Priority: England; Wales.

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 Free Churches Group.

Les Filles de la CroixNo public processGave £58,090 Ninetyfold Foundation Unending LightNo public processGave £11,392 The Hintze Family Charitable FoundationRollingGave £552k The Patrick Rowland FoundationNo public processGave £85,300 Western Counties & South Wales Evangelisation TrustNo public processGave £114k The WFH FoundationNo public processGave £2.9M Dr S S Short Charitable TrustNo public process The John Booth Charitable FoundationRollingGave £2.4M Forster FoundationNo public process

Five years of accounts

Financial year	Income	Expenditure	Grants paid	Accounts document
year to 31 December 2021	£196,626	£312,562	—	Accounts for year to 31 December 2021
year to 31 December 2022	£230,329	£315,300	—	Accounts for year to 31 December 2022
year to 31 December 2023	£258,369	£335,379	—	Accounts for year to 31 December 2023
year to 31 December 2024	£285,805	£385,035	—	Accounts for year to 31 December 2024
year to 31 December 2025	£240,488	£369,554	£1,383	Accounts for year to 31 December 2025

Grants paid, year to 31 December 2025: the accounts do not say whether this is grants awarded or paid.

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.