The Community Of St Denys

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £130,000 (2018-19 figures)
• Success Rate: Not available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Not publicly specified
• Geographic Focus: Wiltshire (primary focus)

Contact Details

Address: 11 Ashley Coombe, Warminster, BA12 9QU

Phone: 01985 300490

Email: communitystdenys@gmail.com

Note: This charity does not appear to have a public website. Prospective applicants should contact directly via email or phone.

Overview

The Community of St Denys (Charity Number: 233026) was founded in 1879 as an Anglican religious order of nuns under the Diocese of Salisbury. The order was established by Sir James Erasmus Philipps, 12th Baronet, vicar of St Denys' Church, Warminster, and historically engaged in missionary work, education (including running St Monica's School for Girls from 1890 to 1973), and pastoral care. Since the retirement of the last nun in the early 21st century (the final sister, Frances Ann, passed away in June 2024), the organization has operated as a grant-making charity governed by a board of trustees. The charity distributes surplus income from its investments as grants to suitable projects. For the financial year ending June 30, 2024, the charity reported total income of £150,204 and total expenditure of £830,061.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The charity operates a single grant program funded through investment income. Application methods and deadlines are not publicly advertised; interested applicants must contact the charity directly.

Priority Areas

The Community of St Denys makes grants aligned with its charitable objectives:

• Religious Activities: Advancing Christian religion in accordance with Anglican Faith principles through prayer, intercession, mission and retreat work
• Educational Purposes: Supporting educational initiatives that align with the charity's Christian mission
• Pastoral Care: Supporting pastoral activities and community ministry
• Christian Mission: Both domestic (home) and overseas missionary work

Geographic Focus: Primarily Wiltshire, though the charitable objects reference mission work both at home and overseas.

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented. Given the charity's Anglican Christian foundation and objectives, grants are likely limited to projects that advance Christian religion and education in accordance with Anglican principles.

Ready to write a winning application for The Community Of St Denys?

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: Currently 1 trustee

Chair: David John Prior

Mr. Prior also serves as trustee for:

• Warminster Park Community Centre
• The Parochial Church Council of St Denys, Warminster

Trustee Compensation: Trustees receive no remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Staffing: The charity has no employees with total benefits exceeding £60,000 and operates no trading subsidiaries.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Community of St Denys does not maintain a public website or published application guidelines. Prospective applicants should:

1. Contact the charity directly via email (communitystdenys@gmail.com) or phone (01985 300490)
2. Inquire about current funding priorities, eligibility criteria, and application requirements
3. Request information about grant size ranges and decision timelines

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly available. Applicants should inquire when making initial contact.

Success Rates

Success rates and application statistics are not publicly reported.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly available.

Application Success Factors

Given the limited publicly available information, applicants should consider the following:

• Alignment with Anglican Mission: Projects should clearly demonstrate alignment with Anglican Christian principles and the advancement of Christian religion
• Educational Focus: Educational initiatives with religious or pastoral elements may be particularly suitable
• Wiltshire Connection: Projects in Wiltshire may receive priority consideration given the charity's geographic focus
• Historical Legacy: Understanding the charity's historical work in education (St Monica's School), missionary activities, and pastoral care may help frame applications appropriately
• Direct Communication: Given the absence of formal application materials, building a relationship through direct communication and clearly articulating how a project aligns with the charity's objects will be essential

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Application Process: This charity operates without a website or published guidelines, requiring direct contact for all inquiries
• Religious Focus: All grants must align with advancing Christian religion according to Anglican principles
• Limited Public Information: Very little information is available about specific grants awarded, typical grant sizes, or successful projects
• Investment-Based Giving: The charity distributes surplus income from investments, which may mean grant availability varies with investment performance
• Small Governance Structure: With only one trustee, decision-making may be more streamlined but also less transparent
• Geographic Priority: Wiltshire-based projects likely receive priority consideration
• Historical Context Matters: Understanding the charity's 145-year history as a religious order provides valuable context for the types of work they may support

References

• Charity Commission for England and Wales. (2024). “THE COMMUNITY OF ST DENYS - Charity 233026.” Register of Charities.. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/233026
• Wikipedia. “Community of St. Denys.”. (Referenced for historical context)
• Charity Commission financial records for year ending 30 June 2024
• Historical grant distribution figure of £130,000 for 2018-19 referenced in charity documentation