Ordination Candidates Training Fund Incorporated Trust Limited

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £28,518 (2024)
• Annual Income: £17,179 (2024)
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
• Incorporation Date: 15 November 1937

Contact Details

Email: douglas_gibb@hotmail.com

Phone: 01892 774774

Registered Address: 24 Ferndale, Tunbridge Wells, TN2 3NS, England

Charity Number: 313817

Company Number: 00333693

Note: This charity does not maintain a public website. Inquiries should be directed to the email address above.

Overview

The Ordination Candidates Training Fund Incorporated Trust Limited was established in 1937 as a charitable company to support the training of candidates for Holy Orders in the Church of England and for foreign mission work. The charity operates through a grant-making model, providing direct financial support to individual ordinands. With total expenditure of £28,518 in the year ending April 2024 and income of £17,179, this is a small, specialized fund managed by a board of five trustees, all of whom are members of the clergy or experienced in church governance. The charity has been operating for over 85 years and maintains consistent support for Anglican ministry formation. The fund operates across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, focusing exclusively on training support for those entering ordained ministry or foreign mission service.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The charity operates a single grant program focused on ordination training support. Specific grant amounts are not publicly disclosed, but the charity's total annual expenditure of approximately £28,500 suggests relatively modest individual grants distributed among multiple recipients.

Ordination Training Grants

• Purpose: Training costs for candidates for Holy Orders in the Church of England
• Purpose: Support for foreign mission work preparation
• Application method: Direct contact via email (no online portal available)
• Decision process: Rolling basis (inferred from operating structure)

Priority Areas

• Training of candidates for Holy Orders in the Church of England
• Preparation and support for foreign mission work
• Religious activities related to Anglican priesthood formation
• Support for ordinands across the United Kingdom

What They Don't Fund

Based on the charity's stated objects, the fund does not support:

• Non-Anglican ordination training
• General education or theological study not related to ordination
• Operational costs of churches or religious organizations
• Community projects or social welfare programs
• Ecumenical ministry outside the Church of England and churches in full communion
• Ongoing ministry costs (post-ordination operational support)

Ready to write a winning application for Ordination Candidates Training Fund Incorporated Trust Limited?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Get Free Beta Access

Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The charity is governed by a board of five trustees, all serving without remuneration:

1. Rev Debra Turley - Appointed 6 October 2024
2. Rev Peter Douglas Hall - Appointed 17 February 2020
3. Rev Calvert Clayton Prentis - Appointed 15 July 2019
4. Edward Peacock - Appointed 4 February 2014 (also trustee of British Czech and Slovak Association)
5. Rev John Alexander Risdon - Long-serving trustee

The majority of trustees are ordained clergy, reflecting the charity's specific focus on supporting those entering ordained ministry. The board maintains policies on financial reserves, internal controls, risk management, trustee expenses, and investments.

Staffing

The charity has no employees with total benefits exceeding £60,000, suggesting it operates on a volunteer basis with minimal administrative overhead.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Given the absence of a public website or published application guidelines, prospective applicants should:

1. Make initial contact via email: douglas_gibb@hotmail.com
2. Provide details of ordination training program or foreign mission preparation
3. Specify the nature of financial support required
4. Include sponsorship or reference from diocese or training institution (recommended based on standard practice for ordination funds)

The charity's small size and lack of formal application infrastructure suggests a relatively informal application process, likely requiring direct correspondence with the trustees.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly available. Given the charity's structure as a small trust with volunteer trustees, applicants should allow adequate time for trustee meetings and deliberation.

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available. However, given the charity's modest annual expenditure (£28,518) and very specific focus, competition for grants is likely dependent on the number of eligible ordinands seeking support in any given year.

Reapplication Policy

No public information is available regarding reapplication policies. Applicants should inquire directly when making initial contact.

Application Success Factors

Given the limited public information available about this charity, the following factors are likely important based on the charity's stated objects and governance structure:

Alignment with Anglican Ministry

• Clear commitment to ordained ministry in the Church of England or churches in full communion
• Enrollment in recognized ordination training program
• Support or sponsorship from diocese or Anglican authority

Financial Need

• Demonstrated need for training support
• Clear articulation of how grant will support ordination preparation
• Evidence that other funding sources have been explored

Foreign Mission Focus

• For mission work applicants: specific plans and preparation for foreign mission service
• Connection to Church of England mission priorities

Documentation

• Reference or endorsement from training institution, diocese, or supervising clergy
• Clear budget or explanation of training costs
• Professional and respectful communication given the fund's traditional structure

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is a very small, specialized fund with limited resources (approximately £28,500 annual expenditure)
• The charity has no public website or formal application portal - all contact must be via email or phone
• Focus is exclusively on Church of England ordinands and foreign mission candidates
• The fund has operated continuously since 1937, demonstrating long-term commitment to Anglican ministry formation
• Trustees are predominantly clergy, suggesting applications should demonstrate clear vocational commitment
• Given small size, grants are likely modest but may be meaningful for specific training expenses
• Personal contact and relationship-building may be important given the informal structure
• Applicants should be prepared for a potentially slower process due to volunteer-run administration

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities - ORDINATION CANDIDATES TRAINING FUND INCORPORATED TRUST LIMITED, Charity Number 313817. Accessed 31 October 2025. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/313817
• Companies House - ORDINATION CANDIDATE'S TRAINING FUND INCORPORATED TRUST LIMITED(THE), Company Number 00333693. Accessed 31 October 2025. https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00333693
• Charity Commission Full Print Record - includes financial data for year ending 5 April 2024, trustee information, and governing documents. Accessed 31 October 2025.