Friends Of Essex Churches Trust

Charity Number: 236033

Annual Expenditure: £0.1M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £120,000 (2025 budget)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Quarterly review cycle
  • Grant Range: £1,000 - £15,000 (typical range)
  • Geographic Focus: Historic county of Essex, including Southend-on-Sea, Thurrock, and five London boroughs (Barking & Dagenham, Havering, Newham, Redbridge, Waltham Forest)

Contact Details

Website: www.friendsofessexchurches.org.uk

Phone: 01787 281845

Email: martinstuchfield@pentlowhall.uk

Grants Secretary Email: grantssecretary@foect.org.uk

For pre-application advice, contact the Secretary of the Grants Committee if unsure whether proposed work qualifies for a grant.

Overview

Friends of Essex Churches Trust was established in 1951 under the chairmanship of the Rt Revd Dudley Narborough, Bishop of Colchester, and registered as a charity in 1965 (charity number 236033), making it the second-oldest county-level church preservation trust in England. Initially focused on repairing churches damaged during World War II, the Trust has since awarded over £4 million in grants since 1997. With an annual grant budget of £120,000 for 2025 and total income of £112,951 (2024), the Trust operates without an endowment, relying entirely on fundraising through events, donations, and their annual Ride & Stride sponsored bike ride, which has raised approximately £2.9 million since 1984. The Trust's mission is to enhance the legacy of Essex and East London church buildings by transforming historic structures into functional spaces for modern worship and community use.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Repair Grants: £1,000 - £15,000 (typical range)

Awarded for work to preserve church building fabric for current and future use by worshippers and the wider community. Applications are considered quarterly by the Grants Committee, with hard copy submissions required. In the ten years since 2015, 156 repair grants totalling £1,165,200 have been offered.

Improvement Grants: £1,000 - £15,000 (typical range)

Awarded for work that assists with sustainable long-term use for worship and wider community purposes, such as provision of kitchen and toilet facilities, heating, and disabled access. Since 2015, 53 improvement grants totalling £436,750 have been offered.

Priority Areas

  • Repair and restoration of church building fabric
  • Roof repairs and structural work (e.g., retiling, reshingling spires)
  • Sustainable improvements enhancing long-term community use
  • Kitchen and toilet facilities
  • Heating systems
  • Disabled access
  • All Christian denominations eligible (Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Reformed Church, etc.)
  • Churches of any age qualify (no strict criteria based on historic importance)

What They Don't Fund

  • Routine redecoration
  • Conservation of furnishings or monuments
  • Liturgical reordering
  • New furnishings
  • Routine maintenance
  • Work that has already started
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Governance and Leadership

Current Trustees:

  • Martin Stuchfield (Chairman, appointed 2015): Extensively involved in heritage work, serving as President and Conservation Officer of the Monumental Brass Society and Trustee of the Rural Community Council of Essex. Became Chairman in 2021 after serving as Hon. Secretary (2015) and Vice-Chairman (2017-2021).
  • James Bettley (Chairman of Grants Committee, Trustee since 2020): Architectural historian known for his work on the Pevsner Architectural Guide to Essex. Previously served as Trust Chairman from 2012 to 2017.
  • John Pickthorn (Hon. Secretary, Trustee since 2015)
  • Jo Pimblett (Hon. Treasurer, Trustee since 2020)
  • Rachel Grainger (Ride+Stride Organiser, Trustee since 2016): Served as Vice-Chairman from 2021 to 2025, responsible for the annual Ride+Stride fundraising event.
  • Jeremy Beale (Trustee since 2015)
  • Catherine Leeder (Trustee since 2018)
  • Andrew Marsden (Trustee since 2023)
  • Emma Brice (Trustee since 2024)
  • Peter Tottman (Trustee since 2024)

The Trust has 10 trustees providing governance and strategic direction.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Pre-Application Consultation: Before starting an application, discuss the proposed work with the Secretary of the Grants Committee at grantssecretary@foect.org.uk if unsure whether it qualifies.
  1. Download and Complete Form: Download the application form from www.friendsofessexchurches.org.uk/apply-for-a-grant and complete it in hard copy.
  • Completed application form
  • Specification and quotations for the work
  • Photographs of the areas requiring work
  • Church accounts
  • Necessary approvals (e.g., faculty, listed building consent)
  1. Submit Hard Copy: Return the completed form and all relevant documents to the Grants Secretary at the address given on the form. Hard copy submissions are required.
  1. Site Visit: After submission, a site visit will be arranged by the Grants Committee.
  1. Emergency Applications: In exceptional circumstances (e.g., storm damage), emergency applications may be considered between quarterly meetings.

Decision Timeline

  • Quarterly Review: Applications are considered by the Grants Committee four times a year.
  • Application Deadlines: Specific deadlines vary (e.g., 31 January for March meeting). Contact the Grants Secretary for current deadlines.
  • Decision Time: Decisions are made at quarterly meetings; specific timeframes from submission to decision not publicly disclosed.
  • Notification: Applicants are notified of decisions following the quarterly Grants Committee meetings.

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly disclosed. The Trust awarded 209 grants totalling £1,601,950 between 2015 and 2025 (approximately 21 grants per year on average).

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policy is not explicitly stated. Contact the Grants Secretary for guidance on reapplying after an unsuccessful application.

Application Success Factors

  • Match Funding Expected: The Trust expects applicants to make every effort to raise funds from other sources besides the Friends of Essex Churches Trust. Demonstrating efforts to secure funding from multiple sources strengthens applications.
  • Recommended Co-Funders: The Trust recommends approaching the National Churches Trust, Benefact Trust, Garfield Weston Foundation, and local heritage trusts as additional funding sources.
  • Clear Specification Required: Applications must include detailed specifications and quotations for the proposed work, demonstrating that projects are well-planned and costed.
  • Photographic Evidence: Include photographs of the areas requiring work to help the Grants Committee assess the project's urgency and appropriateness.
  • Necessary Approvals: Ensure all required approvals (e.g., faculty for Church of England buildings, listed building consent) are obtained or in progress before applying.
  • Community Benefit: While not explicitly stated, the Trust's emphasis on “sustainable long-term use both for worship and for wider community purposes” suggests that demonstrating community benefit strengthens applications.
  • Examples of Funded Projects:
  • St. Mary Magdalene, Wethersfield: £12,500 grant (largest portion of total funding) for roof restoration using rubber (fleece-backed EPDM) roofing material, part of a £120,000 project addressing severe roof deterioration.
  • St Peter, Great Totham, Maldon: £10,000 grant for retiling roofs, reshingling spire, and regilding weathervane, part of a £236,000 project with English Heritage providing £129,000.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Hard copy applications only – no online portal; download the form and submit by post with all supporting documentation.
  • Pre-application consultation encouraged – contact the Grants Secretary if uncertain about eligibility to avoid wasted effort.
  • Match funding essential – demonstrate efforts to secure grants from multiple sources, particularly the recommended co-funders.
  • Quarterly decision cycle – plan applications around quarterly meetings and be aware of specific deadlines (e.g., 31 January for March).
  • Site visit expected – the Grants Committee arranges visits to assess projects firsthand, so ensure local contacts are available to facilitate this.
  • Work must not have started – ensure applications are submitted before work begins, as the Trust does not fund retrospective projects.
  • Community use strengthens applications – emphasize how improvements will benefit both worshippers and the wider community for sustainable long-term use.

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