The Chelmsford Diocesan Board of Finance
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The funder's objects centre on the Church of England's work in the Diocese of Chelmsford, and it makes grants to other charities, such as PCCs and charitable projects, that appear to support those objects, so a request should show how it advances that work.
- Its stated focus is Essex, Southend, Thurrock, Newham, Waltham Forest, Barking & Dagenham, Redbridge, Havering and South Cambridgeshire, so check your area against that list.
- The annual report's typical grants run from £10,000 to £1,400,000, with a median of £89,000, so a request sized nearer the median is more realistic.
- No public application process is published, so contact the funder before preparing a full request; deaneries apply separately to the Mission Opportunity Fund for locally discerned work across parish boundaries.
- No timing or competition details are given.
Overview
The Chelmsford Diocesan Board of Finance is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 249505).
The Chelmsford Diocesan Board of Finance is a registered charity whose purpose is to assist and promote the work of the Church of England in the Diocese of Chelmsford. It supports parishes and worshipping communities and makes grants to other charities, including PCCs and charitable projects. Its annual giving is £2,140,000, and its General Fund includes regular grants while other grants are approved under the terms of reference of the relevant fund, such as the Mission Opportunity Fund.
What they fund
Priority Areas
The foundation assists and promotes the work of the Church of England in the Diocese of Chelmsford. It supports parishes and worshipping communities in their varied local contexts. It makes grants to other charities, including PCCs and charitable projects that it considers to support its objects. The general fund includes regular grants, while other grants are approved according to the relevant fund’s terms of reference. The Mission Opportunity Fund enables deaneries to apply for support for locally discerned missional work across parish boundaries within their deanery. The Diocese’s objects cover Essex, Southend and Thurrock, five East London boroughs and a few parishes in South Cambridgeshire.
Themes
- Parish mission work
Geographic Focus
Essex; Southend; Thurrock; Newham; Waltham Forest; Barking & Dagenham; Redbridge; Havering; South Cambridgeshire.
How to apply
Deaneries apply to the Mission Opportunity Fund for support for locally discerned missional work across parish boundaries within their deanery.
Who can apply:
- Grants are paid to other charities e.g. PCCs and charitable projects which appear to CDBF to support the furtherance of its objects.
Where they fund
Similar funders
Funders supporting work similar to The Chelmsford Diocesan Board of Finance.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 7 grants in year to 31 December 2025 by size
Median £89,000 (year to 31 December 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in this funder’s latest annual report:
- Contributions to Archbishops' Council£1,353,000year to 31 December 2025
- Mission Opportunity grants to parishes£354,000year to 31 December 2025
- PCCs for mission projects£203,000year to 31 December 2025
- Grants for parish building projects£89,000year to 31 December 2025
- Building grants to parishes£41,000year to 31 December 2025
- PCC feasibility study£15,000year to 31 December 2025
- Housing Justice Lent Appeal£10,000year to 31 December 2025
Grant examples taken from the funder’s filed accounts. Not included above: 2 grants to individuals; 5 with no named recipient; 1 line covering other, unnamed recipients (£13,000).
Five years of accounts
| Financial year | Income | Expenditure | Grants paid | Accounts document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| year to 31 December 2021 | £24,842,000 | £22,881,000 | £1,270,000 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2021 |
| year to 31 December 2022 | £23,751,909 | £24,140,126 | £1,262,883 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2022 |
| year to 31 December 2023 | £26,411,159 | £24,645,062 | £1,838,838 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2023 |
| year to 31 December 2024 | £22,321,043 | £26,929,017 | £1,914,553 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2024 |
| year to 31 December 2025 | £22,995,571 | £25,819,140 | £2,140,000 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2025 |
Income vs grants paid
IncomeGrants paid
Total value each financial year
Grants paid stayed within income across the 5 years shown.
- Grants paid, year to 31 December 2021; year to 31 December 2022; year to 31 December 2023; year to 31 December 2024: grants to institutions, as reported on the charity register (Part B).
- 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.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
- chelmsford.anglican.org/news/holy-trinity-church-in-south-woodford-bible-course · read on 31 October 2026
- chelmsford.anglican.org · read on 31 October 2026
- Annual report (year to 31 December 2025)
This profile draws on the funder’s own website as well as its filed accounts.
Sources last checked on 31 October 2026.
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At a glance
Applying to The Chelmsford Diocesan Board of Finance?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- 01245 294 400source
- reception@chelmsford.anglican.orgsource
- 53 New Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1ATsource
- chelmsford.anglican.org
Applying to The Chelmsford Diocesan Board of Finance?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- 01245 294 400source
- reception@chelmsford.anglican.orgsource
- 53 New Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1ATsource
- chelmsford.anglican.org