The French Huguenot Church Of London Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £450,000 (approximate, based on 2024 income)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: £2,500 - £4,000 (for Huguenot Scholarship); other grants vary
• Geographic Focus: Primarily London-based, with preference for church members and those of French Protestant descent

Contact Details

Registered Address: Haysmacintyre, Thames Exchange, 10 Queen Street Place, London EC4R 1AG

Phone: 020 7969 5500

Church Contact: French Protestant Church of London, 8-9 Soho Square, London W1D 3QD

Church Phone: +44 (0)20 7437 5311

Charity Number: 249017

Overview

The French Huguenot Church of London Charitable Trust is a historic charity established to support the French Protestant Church of London and provide assistance to specific beneficiary groups. With an annual income of approximately £450,524 (2024), the trust operates three distinct funds: the Church Fund (supporting day-to-day church operations), the Educational Fund (promoting education for persons under 25), and the Hardship Fund (alleviating poverty and need). The trust has strong historical connections to the Huguenot community in London and maintains a clear priority hierarchy: first, church members and their families; second, persons of French Protestant descent; and third, others at the trustees' discretion. The charity is governed by thirteen trustees and maintains comprehensive safeguarding and governance policies.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Educational Fund - Supports education for persons under 25 (exceptionally up to 30)

• Scholarships, exhibitions, bursaries, and maintenance allowances
• Support for school, university, college, or further education institutions
• Financial assistance for outfits, clothing, tools, instruments, or books
• Travel grants in furtherance of education
• Support for preparing to enter a profession, trade, or service
• Amounts vary based on individual circumstances

Huguenot Research Scholarship - £2,500 to £4,000 annually

• Awarded through the Institute of Historical Research
• For students working toward a higher degree on Huguenot subjects
• Covers study of French, Dutch, Flemish, or Walloon Protestants from the 16th century to present
• Application deadline: October 1st
• Application method: Through Institute of Historical Research (www.history.ac.uk)

Hardship Fund (formerly Poor Fund) - Amounts vary

• Grants to reduce need, hardship, or distress
• Provision of items, services, or facilities
• Includes historic Esther Coqueau bequest for pensions to poor spinsters or widows aged 50+
• Up to ten pensions available under Coqueau provision
• Trustees will not commit to repeat or renew relief granted

Priority Areas

1. Church members and their families - Highest priority across all funds
2. Persons of French Protestant descent - Second priority
3. Other eligible individuals - At trustees' discretion

Educational support focuses on:

• Young people under 25 (exceptionally up to 30)
• Academic and vocational education
• Physical and social training
• Career preparation and professional development

Hardship support focuses on:

• Relief of poverty and need
• Elderly persons (particularly widows and spinsters aged 50+)
• People with disabilities
• Children and young people in financial need

What They Don't Fund

The trust's restrictions are primarily around eligibility rather than project types. However, based on the structure:

• General organizational funding (except for the French Protestant Church of London)
• Projects unrelated to education, church support, or hardship relief
• Applications from those without connection to the church, French Protestant heritage, or trustee-approved eligibility
• Ongoing or recurring commitments (hardship grants are not renewed automatically)

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees (Current)

Chair: Henry Ralph Adeane Martineau

Trustees:

• Charles Martineau
• Laurence Colchester
• Martin Williams
• Peter Duval
• Alethea Ato
• Anthony Wilson
• Natacha Martineau
• Alice Martineau
• Glynda Easterbrook
• Bénédicte Moëc-Fougier
• Ghislain Leugue
• Fabien Emmanuel Lerede (appointed July 2022)
• Thibault Marcel Lavergne (appointed November 2024)

The trust consists of three members appointed by the Consistory of the French Protestant Church and six to ten external trustees descended from Huguenots. No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Huguenot Research Scholarship:

• Applications through the Institute of Historical Research
• Website: www.history.ac.uk (fellowships/funding section)
• Submit application form with two confidential academic references in sealed envelopes
• Fixed deadline: October 1st annually

For Educational and Hardship Grants:

• No publicly available online application portal
• Contact the trust directly through:
• Registered address: Haysmacintyre, Thames Exchange, 10 Queen Street Place, London EC4R 1AG (020 7969 5500)
• Church: French Protestant Church of London, 8-9 Soho Square, London W1D 3QD (+44 20 7437 5311)
• Application methods and processes not publicly documented
• Likely to require demonstration of eligibility (church membership or French Protestant descent)

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly available. Given the trust structure and annual income distribution, decisions are likely made at trustee meetings held periodically throughout the year.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available. The highly restricted eligibility criteria suggest that the pool of eligible applicants is relatively small and defined.

Reapplication Policy

The trust states that “the trustees shall not commit themselves to repeat or renew the relief granted on any occasion” for hardship grants, indicating that:

• Each application is considered on its merits
• Previous recipients are not guaranteed ongoing support
• Reapplication is possible but not automatically approved
• No explicit waiting period mentioned for reapplication

Application Success Factors

Given the restricted nature of this trust, success factors center heavily on eligibility:

Eligibility Hierarchy:

The trust operates a clear priority system. Applications are strongest when applicants can demonstrate:

1. Membership in the French Protestant Church of London (or parents are members)
2. French Protestant (Huguenot) descent - particularly French, Dutch, Flemish, or Walloon Protestant heritage
3. For Coqueau pensions: being a poor spinster or widow aged 50+ (with preference to Esther Coqueau's relations)

For Educational Grants:

• Clear educational goals and plans
• Financial need for educational support
• Age under 25 (or exceptional circumstances if under 30)
• Specific requirements for tools, instruments, books, or equipment
• Career development and professional training needs

For Huguenot Research Scholarship:

• Strong academic record in postgraduate study
• Research topic clearly focused on Huguenot subjects (French, Dutch, Flemish, or Walloon Protestants, 16th century to present)
• Quality of research proposal and academic references
• Affiliation with recognized institution

For Hardship Grants:

• Demonstrated financial need, hardship, or distress
• Clear explanation of circumstances
• Specific needs that can be addressed through grants or provision of items/services

Strategic Considerations:

• The trust values its historical mission and Huguenot heritage
• Connection to the church community is a significant advantage
• Genealogical documentation of French Protestant descent may strengthen applications
• For educational grants, demonstrating how support will lead to long-term benefit
• The trust is unlikely to commit to ongoing support, so one-time needs may be better received

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Highly restricted eligibility: This trust primarily serves church members and those of French Protestant descent. General applicants are unlikely to succeed unless they meet these specific criteria.

• Three distinct funding streams: Understand which fund is appropriate - Church Fund (operational church support), Educational Fund (under 25s), or Hardship Fund (poverty relief). Do not conflate these streams.

• Priority hierarchy matters: Applications are strongest when from church members, followed by those of French Protestant descent. Being in the third category (“other persons”) puts applicants at a significant disadvantage.

• Limited public information: Unlike many modern grant-makers, this trust does not maintain detailed public application guidance. Direct contact with the trust or church is likely necessary to understand current priorities and processes.

• Historical and genealogical connections: For those of French Protestant descent, documenting this heritage (through genealogical research, Huguenot Society records, etc.) may strengthen applications.

• Huguenot Research Scholarship is most accessible: The annual scholarship for Huguenot research has the clearest application process and is open to a broader pool of academic researchers, regardless of heritage, as long as the research topic is relevant.

• No ongoing commitments: The trust explicitly states it will not commit to renewing hardship grants, suggesting a preference for one-time needs rather than ongoing support requirements.

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• The Charities Aid Foundation
• Paul Hamlyn Foundation
• Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
• THE HEALTH FOUNDATION
• Trust for London
• The Tudor Trust
• THE A B CHARITABLE TRUST
• Kent Community Foundation
• The Blagrave Trust
• THE CHILDWICK TRUST
• The Colyer-Fergusson Charitable Trust
• THE CHILDHOOD TRUST
• John Swire 1989 Charitable Trust
• National Lottery Heritage Fund
• THE TOLKIEN TRUST
• DUDLEY AND GEOFFREY COX CHARITABLE TRUST
• CHOOSE LOVE
• THE HARDY FAMILY FOUNDATION
• SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES
• Heritage Lottery Fund

References

1. UK Charity Commission Register - The French Huguenot Church of London Charitable Trust (249017). Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/249017/full-print

1. French Protestant Church of London official website - The Consistory and the Trust. Available at: https://www.egliseprotestantelondres.org.uk/en/our-church/the-consistory-and-the-trust/

1. Huguenot Society - Scholarship for Huguenot Research. Available at: https://www.huguenotsociety.org.uk/home/scholarship-for-huguenot-research.html

1. Institute of Historical Research - Huguenot Scholarship information. Referenced at: www.history.ac.uk

1. Charity Commission financial data showing annual income of £450,524 for financial year ending 2024, with total expenditure of £500,783