Gloucestershire Historic Churches Trust

Charity Number: 1120266

Annual Expenditure: £0.1M
Geographic Focus: Gloucestershire

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £150,000
  • Success Rate: Very high (“we very rarely say no to a project”)
  • Decision Time: 2 weeks after committee meetings
  • Grant Range: £1,000 - £10,000
  • Geographic Focus: Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire, and North Bristol
  • Application Deadlines: 30th April and 31st October

Contact Details

Website: www.ghct.org.uk

Email: secretary@GHCT.org.uk | grants@ghct.org.uk (for grant applications)

Phone: 01285 659778

Address: Wenn Townsend, 5 Gosditch Street, Cirencester GL7 2AG

Grants Contact: Dr. Ray Singleton, Chairman of Grants Committee (grants@ghct.org.uk)

Overview

Established in 1980, the Gloucestershire Historic Churches Trust (GHCT) is an independent charity that raises funds to help preserve and improve over 620 historic churches, chapels, and meeting houses of all Christian denominations in Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire, and North Bristol. Since inception, the Trust has awarded over £2 million in grants. In their 2023 financial year, the Trust had an income of £160,465 and expenditure of £147,769. The Trust maintains a commitment to keeping these historic buildings alive as active centres of community life, supporting both repairs to the fabric of buildings and improvements that enhance their functionality for modern worship and community use. Their recent strategic approach includes partnerships with major donors like the Julia Rausing Trust, which committed an additional £50,000 in 2024.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

  • Main Grant Programme: £1,000 - £10,000 per project
  • Two annual funding rounds (June and December)
  • Rolling application system with fixed deadlines
  • Total of £150,000 distributed annually
  • In 2024, 41 churches received grants totalling nearly £140,000

Priority Areas

The Trust funds a broad range of projects including:

  • Repairs: Roof work, re-roofing, masonry repairs, structural improvements, stonework
  • Conservation: Organ repairs and restoration, bell restoration, memorial conservation
  • Improvements: Accessibility enhancements, heating system upgrades, church reordering
  • Community Facilities: Creating educational and recreational spaces, children's areas, multi-use spaces
  • Churchyard Work: Improvements to surrounding churchyards

Recent funded projects include:

  • Syde: £10,000 for re-roofing nave and potentially chancel
  • Nailsworth: £7,000 for chancel re-ordering and children's area
  • Tormarton: £10,000 for church re-ordering
  • Longney: £7,000 to create educational and recreational spaces
  • St Michael's Withington: £5,000 for roof repairs

What They Don't Fund

  • Substantial repairs without professional specification from an architect or surveyor with conservation training
  • Churches that are not “adequately insured and properly maintained”
  • Multiple applications from the same church within a 12-month period
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Governance and Leadership

Patron: His Majesty King Charles III

President: Edward Gillespie OBE (HM Lord Lieutenant)

Chair: Professor Patricia Broadfoot CBE

Vice-Chair: Jonathan MacKechnie-Jarvis (also serves as Grants Chairman)

Treasurer: David Kingsmill

Secretary: Stephen Langton

Chairman of Grants Committee: Dr. Ray Singleton

Additional Council Members: Naomi Buckler, Alick Campbell, Revd Canon Michael Garland, Marcus Green, Jane Jenner-Fust, Adam Klups, Sue Pearce, Simon Ray, Ian Serjeant, Arthur Snell, Colin Senior

The Trust operates with 5 trustees and 12 volunteers. Responsibility for the Trust is taken by trustees, and the Trust is managed on a day-to-day basis by a council which includes all trustees plus additional members.

Key Quote from Leadership: Jonathan MacKechnie-Jarvis, the Grants Chairman, states: “At GHCT we are very open-minded and we very rarely say no to a project. We have a simple application process and we make decisions quickly.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are submitted via a straightforward process with fixed biannual deadlines:

  • 30th April (for June meeting)
  • 31st October (for December meeting)
  1. Contact: Submit applications to Dr. Ray Singleton at grants@ghct.org.uk
  • For Church of England churches: Must have a faculty or List B approval from the DAC (Diocesan Advisory Committee)
  • Similar provisions apply for other exempt denominations (Roman Catholic, Methodist, etc.)
  • Must indicate how far the approval process has progressed
  • Churches must be “adequately insured and properly maintained”
  • Work must be specified by an architect or surveyor with conservation training for substantial repairs
  • Only one application per church per 12-month period
  • Annual donations to GHCT, and/or
  • Participation in the annual Ride+Stride fundraising event (held in September)
  • The Grants Committee is likely to be more generous to churches that support the Trust

Decision Timeline

  • Committee Meetings: First Monday of June and December
  • Notification: Outcomes usually announced within two weeks of the meeting
  • Total Timeline: Approximately 1-3 months from deadline to decision, depending on submission timing

Success Rates

While specific statistics are not published, the Grants Chairman explicitly states that the Trust is “very open-minded” and they “very rarely say no to a project.” Recent data shows:

  • In 2024: 41 churches received grants totalling nearly £140,000
  • The Trust regularly awards grants to a significant proportion of applicants
  • The simple application process and positive approach suggest a high success rate

Reapplication Policy

  • Churches may only submit one application per 12-month period
  • No specific restrictions mentioned for reapplication after unsuccessful attempts
  • The Trust's open-minded approach suggests reapplication is welcomed

Application Success Factors

Based on the Trust's stated priorities and recent funding patterns, applications are more likely to succeed when they:

  1. Demonstrate Active Support for the Trust: The Grants Committee explicitly states they are “likely to be more generous to those which do support the Trust” through annual donations or Ride+Stride participation. This two-tier preference system is a stated policy.
  1. Include Professional Specifications: Substantial repairs must be specified by an architect or surveyor with conservation training. This is a requirement, not just a preference.
  1. Show Proper Permissions are in Progress: For Church of England churches, demonstrate that faculty or List B approval is underway. Make clear how far the approval process has progressed.
  1. Balance Heritage and Community Use: The Trust values projects that preserve historic fabric while making buildings more functional for modern worship and community activities. Recent funded projects show strong support for reordering schemes that create educational spaces and improve accessibility.
  1. Demonstrate Adequate Insurance and Maintenance: Churches must be properly maintained and adequately insured to be eligible.
  1. Apply for Work Within the £1,000-£10,000 Range: While grants vary, this is the typical range. Larger projects may need to be phased or seek additional funding sources.
  1. Keep Applications Simple: The Grants Chairman emphasizes they have a “simple application process” - avoid over-complicating your submission.
  1. Address Multiple Priorities: Recent grants show equal support for traditional repairs (roofs, stonework) and modern improvements (heating, accessibility, reordering). Both types of projects are valued.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Very High Success Rate: The Trust explicitly states they “very rarely say no to a project” - this is an unusually accessible funder with a positive approach to applications
  • Support Matters: Actively supporting the Trust through donations or Ride+Stride participation significantly improves your chances - this is a stated preference, not just speculation
  • Quick Decisions: Two-week notification after committee meetings means relatively fast turnaround compared to many funders
  • Broad Eligibility: All Christian denominations in Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire, and North Bristol are eligible
  • Professional Standards Required: For substantial repairs, you must have architect/surveyor specifications with conservation training
  • Plan for Permissions: Ensure faculty or equivalent permissions are underway before applying - the Trust wants to see progress on approvals
  • Two Chances Annually: With April 30th and October 31st deadlines, you have two opportunities per year to apply
  • Partnership Approach: The Trust works collaboratively with major funders like the Julia Rausing Trust, suggesting they may be open to discussing larger projects or joint funding

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