The Stuart Hine Trust Cio

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £646,189 (2023-24)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Not publicly specified
• Geographic Focus: International - 9 countries (Ghana, India, Latvia, Moldova, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Ukraine) plus England and Wales
• Total Distributed to Date: Over £6 million

Contact Details

• Website: https://howgreatthouartofficial.com/
• Email: melanie@stuarthinetrust.com
• Phone: 07495193046
• Address: 40 Chapel Road, Pawlett, Bridgwater, Somerset
• Funding Application Page: https://howgreatthouartofficial.com/the-trust/funding-application/

Overview

The Stuart Hine Trust CIO was registered in 2016 (Charity Number 1168500) to administer royalties from the beloved hymn “How Great Thou Art” and its derivatives. With annual charitable expenditure of £646,189 (2023-24) and total income of £626,716, the Trust has distributed over £6 million for gospel work since its inception. The charity continues the legacy of Stuart Wesley Keene Hine (1899-1989), a British missionary who wrote the English version of “How Great Thou Art” during a 300-mile bicycle journey through the Carpathian Mountains in 1934 while distributing Bibles and preaching. Before his passing, Hine and his daughter Sonia (who served with Wycliffe Bible Translators in Ghana and Cameroon) established the Trust to ensure that royalties would support charitable purposes rather than private wealth. The Trust operates internationally across nine countries with a strong focus on supporting Christian mission work, Bible translation, and humanitarian aid, particularly in Ukraine where Stuart originally ministered.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Trust provides grants through the discretion of its trustees, with particular emphasis on causes aligned with Stuart Hine's missionary vision. Specific grant amounts and program tiers are not publicly disclosed. Applications can be submitted through their website's funding application page.

Priority Areas

Primary Focus:

• Bible translation work through organizations like Wycliffe Bible Translators
• Support for retired missionaries
• Christian churches and Christian organizations
• Individuals and organizations supported by Stuart Hine during his lifetime
• Humanitarian aid and church support in Ukraine (currently receiving all foreseeable royalties from new hymn arrangements)

Broader Charitable Purposes:

The Trust's charitable objects allow trustees to support any charities or charitable purposes at their discretion, having regard to Stuart Hine's desire to support Christian causes but not restricted exclusively to them. The Trust has supported work in culture and art, humanitarian and disaster relief, and other non-profit charitable causes.

Geographic Priorities:

The Trust operates in Ghana, India, Latvia, Moldova, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Ukraine, England, and Wales, reflecting Stuart Hine's missionary footprint and ongoing translation work.

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly listed, the Trust's focus on Christian mission work, Bible translation, and causes aligned with Stuart Hine's vision suggests that projects significantly outside these parameters may not be prioritized.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees (as of 2024)

The Trust is governed by seven trustees, with key personnel including:

• Melanie Churchyard (appointed 2017) - Company CEO, primary contact (melanie@stuarthinetrust.com). Also serves as trustee of Childs Charitable Trust where she has worked since 1999.
• Philip John Loose (appointed 2021) - Also trustee of International Christian Communications
• Robert Hedley Clark (appointed 2017) - Also trustee of Eastbourne Christian Resources
• Susan Elizabeth Wilmot (appointed 2020) - Also trustee of Great Lakes Outreach

One or more trustees receive payments or benefits for providing services to the charity, though no employees have total benefits exceeding £60,000.

The trustees exercise discretion in determining which charities and charitable purposes receive support, guided by Stuart Hine's original vision of supporting Christian churches, organizations, and individuals while maintaining flexibility to support broader charitable work.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications can be submitted through the Trust's website at https://howgreatthouartofficial.com/the-trust/funding-application/. For inquiries or guidance, prospective applicants should contact Melanie Churchyard at melanie@stuarthinetrust.com or by phone at 07495193046.

Detailed public information about the application process, requirements, and deadlines is limited. Direct contact with the Trust is recommended to obtain specific application guidelines.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly available. Applicants should inquire directly with the Trust about expected timeframes.

Success Rates

Success rates and application statistics are not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

The Trust's reapplication policy for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly specified. Applicants should contact the Trust directly for guidance.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Stuart Hine's Legacy

The Trust is deeply rooted in the missionary vision of Stuart Hine, who valued gospel preaching and Bible distribution above personal wealth. Organizations and projects that align with these values are likely to resonate with trustees:

• Bible Translation and Distribution: Wycliffe Bible Translators is explicitly mentioned as a priority recipient, reflecting both Stuart Hine's mission work and his daughter Sonia's service with Wycliffe in Ghana and Cameroon.

• Missionary Support: The Trust has historically supported retired missionaries and individuals who were connected to Stuart Hine during his lifetime, demonstrating loyalty to long-term mission workers.

• Ukrainian Connection: Stuart Hine first encountered the Russian version of “How Great Thou Art” in the Carpathian Mountains in what is now Ukraine in 1931. The Trust has “financed quite a lot in Ukraine over the years” and currently directs all royalties from new hymn arrangements to humanitarian aid and churches in Ukraine.

Geographic and Thematic Considerations

The Trust operates across nine countries—Ghana, India, Latvia, Moldova, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, and Ukraine—reflecting Stuart Hine's missionary travels and ongoing translation work. Projects in these regions, particularly those involving Bible translation, church support, or humanitarian aid, may receive favorable consideration.

Values and Ethos

Stuart Hine's personal ethos—“Money was not important to him - the main thing was preaching the gospel and seeing God glorified”—continues to guide the Trust. Applications that emphasize gospel proclamation, spiritual impact, and service over institutional growth or financial gain align with the Trust's founding principles.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Christian mission focus: While the Trust has discretion to support broader charitable causes, its core identity centers on Christian churches, organizations, Bible translation, and missionary work aligned with Stuart Hine's vision.

• Unique funding source: The Trust derives its income from royalties of one of the world's most beloved hymns, which has distributed over £6 million to date. This creates a distinctive connection between worship music and charitable giving.

• Ukrainian priority: Current strategy directs significant resources toward Ukraine (humanitarian aid and church support), reflecting both historical connection and contemporary need.

• Limited public guidance: Application processes, grant ranges, success rates, and decision timelines are not publicly detailed. Direct contact with Melanie Churchyard is essential for tailored guidance.

• Missionary heritage matters: Understanding Stuart Hine's biography—his 1934 bicycle journey through the Carpathian Mountains, his Bible distribution work, his daughter's service with Wycliffe—provides important context for applications.

• International reach: The Trust's operations span nine countries, offering potential for both UK-based organizations with international work and overseas organizations in priority regions.

• Discretionary grant-making: Trustees exercise broad discretion, allowing flexibility but requiring applicants to make compelling cases for alignment with the Trust's mission.

References

1. UK Charity Commission Register - The Stuart Hine Trust CIO (Charity Number 1168500). Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1168500&subid=0

1. The Stuart Hine Trust Official Website. Available at: https://howgreatthouartofficial.com/

1. Giving is Great - The Stuart Hine Trust CIO Charity Factsheet. Available at: https://givingisgreat.org/database/charity-factsheet/?regNo=1168500

1. Wycliffe Bible Translators UK. “They could have been millionaires.” Available at: https://wycliffe.org.uk/story/they-could-have-been-millionaires

1. Premier Christianity Magazine. "The Ukrainian roots of Britain's favourite hymn, 'How great thou art'." Available at: https://www.premierchristianity.com/worship/the-ukrainian-roots-of-britains-favourite-hymn-how-great-thou-art/12908.article

1. WorshipLeader.com. “How Great Thou Art! (Until That Day) 75 Years Later.” Available at: https://worshipleader.com/worship-culture/how-great-thou-art-75-years-later/

1. NGO Explorer - The Stuart Hine Trust CIO. Available at: https://ngoexplorer.org/charity/1168500