The Guild Of Our Lady Of Ransom

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £180,000+ (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: 4 weeks (applications close early November, decisions by early December)
• Grant Range: Variable (example: £1,260 for parish mission)
• Geographic Focus: England & Wales only

Contact Details

• Website: www.guild-ransom.co.uk
• Email: info@guild-ransom.co.uk
• Phone: 020 7476 4129
• Charity Number: 232716

Overview

The Guild of Our Lady of Ransom is a Catholic charity founded on 29th November 1887, continuing its original mission of evangelisation in England and Wales. The Guild operates with three core objectives: to convert the hearts of the people of England and Wales, welcome back those who have lapsed from the Catholic faith, and pray for deceased individuals without prayer support. The charity is led by Mgr John Armitage (Master, appointed 2020), former Rector of the National Catholic Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, and is supported by a network of members across England and Wales. The Guild distributed over £180,000 in grants during 2024, supporting Catholic parishes and innovative evangelisation initiatives through two distinct grant programmes. The charity is governed by a trustee board and holds an Annual Business Meeting where members participate in governance decisions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Ransom Grants: Variable amounts (rolling applications)

• Dedicated to supporting Catholic parishes in England & Wales with annual Sunday collections under £35,000
• Example grant: £1,260 for parish mission at St Bride parish
• Supports evangelistic and formative projects
• Applications open annually in October/November

Dowry Grants: Amount not specified (invitation/member-based)

• Supports new and innovative works of evangelisation promoting Catholic faith in England & Wales
• Guild members can request project consideration via email
• Non-members: by invitation only

Priority Areas

Ransom Grants must be used for:

• Formation for evangelisation: Training programmes, parish missions
• Resources for evangelisation: Digital media, books, educational materials
• General parish development: Projects that enable evangelisation activities

Dowry Grants focus on:

• New and innovative evangelisation works
• Projects promoting Catholic faith in England & Wales

What They Don't Fund

• Salary funding or partial salary funding
• Parishes with annual Sunday collections of £35,000 or more (for Ransom Grants)
• Projects outside England & Wales
• Parishes that have received a grant in the past 24 months (Ransom Grants)

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Governance and Leadership

Master (Chair of Trustees): Mgr Jonathan Armitage (appointed 2020)

• Former Rector of the National Catholic Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham
• Serves five-year term, may be reappointed for additional five years
• Nominated by Executive Council with blessing of Patron, Archbishop of Southwark

Other Trustees:

• Dr Peter Ryden MA MSc - Honorary Secretary
• Gregory Francis Marius Thomas Wheatley - Honorary Treasurer
• Fr Patrick Eddy Lea van der Vorst
• Fr Paschal Ikechukwu Uche
• Eileen Patricia Cole
• Aidan Patrick Christie KC
• Vanessa Donegan MA

No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Quote from Mgr Armitage on Catholic social teaching and supporting those in need: “It is about the dignity of the individual and his or her family to go out and earn a decent wage.”

How to Apply to The Guild Of Our Lady Of Ransom

How to Apply

Ransom Grants:

• Applications submitted online through ChurchSuite platform
• Must be submitted by parish priest of a Catholic parish in England & Wales
• Application URL: https://ransom.churchsuite.com/-/forms/atpy31c6
• Questions can be directed to info@guild-ransom.co.uk

Dowry Grants:

• Guild members: Contact via email to request project consideration on behalf of registered charity
• Non-members: By invitation only
• Email: info@guild-ransom.co.uk

Decision Timeline

Ransom Grants annual cycle:

• Applications open: October 10th
• Applications close: November 14th
• Decisions communicated: Early December (by email)
• Funds distributed: Early January

Total time from application close to notification: Approximately 4 weeks

Dowry Grants:

• Timeline varies; contact Guild directly for specific project consideration

Success Rates

Specific success rate statistics are not publicly disclosed. The Guild states it supports “hundreds of projects and initiatives” through its grant programme, with over £180,000 distributed in 2024.

Reapplication Policy

Ransom Grants: Parishes that have received a grant must wait 24 months before reapplying.

Dowry Grants: Reapplication policy not specified; contact Guild directly.

Application Success Factors

For Ransom Grants:

1. Financial eligibility is critical: Parish must have annual Sunday collection under £35,000 threshold
2. Clear evangelisation focus: Applications must demonstrate how funding will support formation for evangelisation, resources for evangelisation, or parish development enabling evangelisation
3. Post-award commitments matter: Successful applicants must commit to celebrating five Masses for the forgotten dead, promoting the Guild in their parish, and submitting testimony about grant usage
4. Potential video participation: Be prepared to potentially participate in video interview about how grant was used
5. Parish priest submission: Only parish priests can submit applications (not lay administrators or other staff)
6. Timing considerations: 24-month gap between grants means planning ahead is essential

For Dowry Grants:

1. Innovation is key: Focus on “new and innovative” works of evangelisation
2. Registered charity status: Projects must be submitted on behalf of registered charity
3. Relationship matters: Guild membership provides access; non-members need invitation
4. England & Wales focus: Must clearly promote Catholic faith within England & Wales

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Eligibility first: Verify parish Sunday collection is under £35,000 threshold before investing time in Ransom Grant application
• Evangelisation alignment: Frame all project descriptions around evangelisation - this is the Guild's core mission since 1887
• Build relationships: Consider Guild membership to access Dowry Grant opportunities and stay informed about funding
• Plan for commitments: Factor in post-award requirements (five Masses, Guild promotion, testimony) when applying
• Respect the timeline: Applications only accepted once per year in October/November; plan accordingly
• 24-month gap rule: If previously funded, mark calendar for when you become eligible again
• Priest-led application: Ensure parish priest is prepared to submit and sign application

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Counties
• The Deo Gloria Trust
• Incorporated Trustees Of The Number 1 Trust Fund
• Hymns Ancient And Modern Limited
• The Beatrice Laing Trust
• The Bishop Radford Trust
• St Christopher's Educational Trust (incorporating The Hughes And Stevens Bequest)
• The Norwood And Newton Settlement
• Additional Curates Society
• J F W Deacon's Mabledon Charity

References

• The Guild of Our Lady of Ransom official website: www.guild-ransom.co.uk
• Ransom Grants page: https://www.guild-ransom.co.uk/ransom-grants
• Our Grants page: https://www.guild-ransom.co.uk/our-grants
• About Us page: https://www.guild-ransom.co.uk/about
• Charity Commission Register: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=232716
• Charity Commission Trustee Information: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/232716/trustees
• Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales: “Guild of Our Lady of Ransom appoints new Master”: https://www.cbcew.org.uk/guild-of-our-lady-of-ransom-appoints-new-master/