The Sussex Historic Churches Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £104,275 (year ending 31 December 2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Applications reviewed twice yearly (April and September)
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed (typically supports essential repairs)
• Geographic Focus: East Sussex and West Sussex
• Charity Number: 282159

Contact Details

Website: www.sussexhistoricchurchestrust.org.uk

Email: philipbowden@outlook.com

Phone: 01892 652404

Online Application: Available on website

Overview

Founded in 1956, The Sussex Historic Churches Trust is an independent charitable organization that provides grants and interest-free loans for the essential repair and restoration of places of worship of architectural or historic interest throughout Sussex. With a total income of £131,037 and expenditure of £104,275 in the year ending 31 December 2023, the Trust has assisted more than 500 churches and places of worship across East and West Sussex since its foundation. The Trust is entirely run by volunteers, with 6 trustees and 25 volunteers, and receives no government funding, relying instead on donations, bequests, investments, and its annual Ride + Stride fundraising event. In 2024 alone, the Trust awarded approximately £103,000 to 14 historic places of worship. The organization's mission focuses on maintaining historic religious buildings wind and waterproof through essential fabric repairs.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Grants and Interest-Free Loans: The Trust offers both grants and interest-free loans for essential repairs to church fabric. Specific amounts are not publicly disclosed but vary according to project need and available funds. The Trust distributes approximately £100,000 annually across multiple projects.

Application Method: Online application form available on the Trust's website. Applications must be submitted at least two weeks before the trustees' bi-annual meetings.

Meeting Dates: The Trust meets twice yearly in Spring and Autumn. The 2026 meeting dates are April 10 and September 18, with applications due two weeks prior to each meeting.

Priority Areas

Essential Fabric Repairs: The current policy of the Trustees confines grants to works of essential repair to the fabric of church buildings, with emphasis on:

• Maintaining structures wind and waterproof
• Roof repairs
• Structural conservation
• Essential building fabric maintenance

Building Age Requirement: The Trust defines “historic” as buildings which are at least 100 years old. Priority is given to buildings meeting this criterion.

All Denominations Welcome: The Trust awards grants to assist places of worship of all faiths within East and West Sussex.

What They Don't Fund

The Trust does not consider the following suitable for assistance:

• Works of decoration
• Embellishment projects
• Central heating installations or maintenance
• Electrical maintenance
• Buildings less than 100 years old
• Buildings outside East Sussex and West Sussex

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Governance and Leadership

Co-Presidents

• Andrew Blackman - Lord-Lieutenant of East Sussex
• Lady Emma Barnard - Lord-Lieutenant of West Sussex (appointed 2022)

Board of Trustees

The Trust is run by a small board of dedicated trustees from various backgrounds, all living in the counties of East and West Sussex:

Philip Bowden - Trustee with extensive finance experience. Graduated from Edinburgh University and spent his working life in finance and related matters, primarily in senior management roles and consulting on pensions. Has served as Chairman of the Chichester Diocesan Board of Finance with extensive experience as a PCC and Deanery Synod treasurer. He is a trustee director of the Reliance Pension Scheme and holds a similar role with the Diocese of Chichester Education Trust. Has lived in East Sussex for 35 years.

Christopher Whittick - County Archivist

Michael Foster - Former MP and former High Sheriff of East Sussex

Sara Stonor - Trustee

Jonathan - Background in law, history, and chaplaincy work

John - Chairs various companies and serves on multiple boards

The Trust is notable for being entirely volunteer-run with no trustees receiving any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

1. Read the Grant Application Guidance Notes: Review the Trust's policies and eligibility criteria on their website
2. Ensure Professional Documentation: Applications must be submitted after an architect has been appointed and a builder's estimate accepted
3. Complete the Online Grant Application Form: Available at www.sussexhistoricchurchestrust.org.uk/online-grant-application-form
4. Submit Well Before Work Begins: Applications should be submitted as soon as your architect has been appointed and a builder's estimate accepted, and well before you begin work

Required Documentation:

• Architect's or surveyor's letter confirming the need for work and urgency
• Tender costs obtained based on specifications and drawings

Decision Timeline

Meeting Schedule: The Trust meets twice a year in Spring and Autumn

• 2026 Meeting Dates: April 10 and September 18
• Application Deadline: Two weeks before each meeting date

Typical Timeline: Applications submitted by the deadline are reviewed at the next trustees' meeting. The specific timeframe from submission to decision notification is not publicly disclosed but follows the bi-annual meeting schedule.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed by the Trust. With approximately £100,000 distributed annually across multiple churches, competition for funding is present but not quantified.

Reapplication Policy

The Trust's reapplication policy for unsuccessful applicants is not explicitly stated in publicly available materials. Applicants are encouraged to contact the Trust directly to discuss feedback and potential reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Timing is Critical

Applications must be submitted well before work begins and after professional documentation is secured. Meet the two-week pre-meeting deadline to ensure review at the next trustees' session.

Focus on Essential Structural Work

The Trust explicitly prioritizes fabric repairs that keep buildings wind and waterproof. Projects focused on structural preservation align best with trustee priorities, while decorative or comfort-related improvements are excluded.

Professional Documentation Required

Applications require architect or surveyor confirmation of work urgency plus builder estimates based on specifications and drawings. Professional validation strengthens your case.

Meet the 100-Year Threshold

Buildings must be at least 100 years old. Ensure your building meets this historical criterion before applying.

Demonstrate Architectural or Historic Interest

While the Trust serves all denominations, emphasizing your building's architectural or historic significance aligns with their mission to preserve Sussex's religious heritage.

Apply to Multiple Funders Simultaneously

Recent examples show churches receiving funding packages from multiple sources. The Trust encourages applications to complementary funders such as the National Churches Trust, Garfield Weston Foundation, and Wolfson Foundation.

Leverage the Ride + Stride Connection

Consider participating in or promoting the Trust's annual Ride + Stride fundraising event (held every September). This demonstrates engagement with the Trust's community and supports their primary fundraising mechanism.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Building Age Matters: Your place of worship must be at least 100 years old to qualify for assistance
• Focus on Fabric Only: Limit applications to essential structural repairs that maintain the building wind and waterproof; decorative work, heating, and electrical upgrades are not eligible
• Get Professional Input First: Secure your architect and builder estimates before applying, as these are required documentation
• Plan Around Bi-Annual Meetings: With only two decision points per year (April and September), plan your application timeline accordingly and submit at least two weeks before meetings
• All Faiths Welcome: The Trust supports places of worship of all denominations across East and West Sussex
• Volunteer-Run Organization: Understanding that the Trust is entirely volunteer-operated helps set realistic expectations for communication and processing times
• Multi-Source Funding Strategy: Recent grants show churches successfully combining Trust funding with awards from other foundations—consider a portfolio approach to fundraising

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• The Sussex Community Foundation
• World Cancer Research Fund
• LINKS INTERNATIONAL
• The Brain Tumour Charity
• THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION
• RELEASE INTERNATIONAL
• Sand Dams Worldwide Limited
• THE HANDS UP FOUNDATION
• THE DOUGLAS BADER FOUNDATION
• THE RESPITE ASSOCIATION
• ECOLOGICAL CONTINUITY TRUST
• EUROPEAN SQUIRREL INITIATIVE

References

• The Charity Commission Register of Charities, THE SUSSEX HISTORIC CHURCHES TRUST - 282159, https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/282159
• Sussex Historic Churches Trust Official Website, www.sussexhistoricchurchestrust.org.uk
• National Churches Trust, Sussex Historic Churches Trust, https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/get-support/support-organisations/sussex-historic-churches-trust
• Sussex Express, “New Year grants for East Sussex churches,” https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/new-year-grants-for-east-sussex-churches-4496923
• Diocese of Chichester, “New Year Grants for Sussex Churches,” https://www.chichester.anglican.org/glitter_news/2024/01/28/new-year-grants-sussex-churches/
• Sussex Historic Churches Trust Grants Policy, https://www.sussexhistoricchurchestrust.org.uk/grants_policy.html