The Temple Ecclesiastical Charity

Charity Number: 229907

Annual Expenditure: £0.3M
Geographic Focus: Bristol City, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £282,031 (2023)
  • Annual Income: £224,980 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Applications considered at two trustee meetings annually
  • Grant Range: Not specified (varies by project)
  • Geographic Focus: Former Ecclesiastical Parish of Temple/Holy Cross and Archdeaconry of Bristol (as of 20 January 1992)
  • Trustees: 10
  • Employees: 0

Contact Details

  • Website: www.templecharity.co.uk
  • Phone: 0117 968 1864
  • Email: randwjames@gmail.com (Roger James, Clerk to the Trustees)
  • Address: 26 Druid Road, Bristol, BS9 1LH
  • Charity Number: 229907

Applicants are encouraged to discuss applications in advance with the Clerk to the Trustees.

Overview

The Temple Ecclesiastical Charity was established under a Scheme of 20 January 1992 (varied 28 October 1994) to further the religious and other charitable work of the Church of England in the former ecclesiastical parish of Temple or Holy Cross and in the Archdeaconry of Bristol. Operating as a Bristol-based grant-making trust, the charity has an annual giving capacity of approximately £282,000 and focuses on supporting Church of England initiatives that serve communities facing challenges of poverty and exclusion. The charity gives special preference to applications from the parish of St Mary Redcliffe with Temple Bristol and St John the Baptist Bedminster (the modern successor to the ancient Temple or Holy Cross parish). In recent years, the charity has merged operations with Bristol Archdeaconry Charity and St Thomas Ecclesiastical Charity, offering a joint application process through a single combined form.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Discretionary Grant Programme (Rolling)

  • Up to 40% of total annual funds available for distribution
  • Amount: Varies by project
  • Application method: Combined application form via email (rolling basis with two decision meetings annually)
  • The Trustees prefer to contribute to project costs rather than funding the full amount
  • Priority given to time-limited projects

Parish Support Allocation

  • 15% of total annual funds automatically awarded to the PCC for maintenance of Church of England work in the parish
  • Not available through application process

Priority Areas

The Trustees are looking for projects which:

  • Develop the life of churches and communities in the area of benefit
  • Serve communities most in need (priority consideration)
  • Are consistent with the Bristol Diocese's target to be carbon-neutral by 2030
  • Further the religious and charitable work of the Church of England
  • Are limited in time rather than open-ended commitments
  • Recognize and minimize environmental impact

Recent Examples of Funded Projects:

  • Bristol North West CAP Debt Centre (Christians Against Poverty debt advice and support)
  • Bristol North West Foodbank
  • Filwood Hope Advice Centre
  • Bristol Schools Connection
  • Various church-based community initiatives supporting vulnerable populations

What They Don't Fund

The charity's capacity to give grants is restricted:

  • Projects outside the defined geographical area of benefit (former Archdeaconry of Bristol as it was on 20 January 1992)
  • Non-Church of England organizations or projects
  • Full project costs (prefer partial contribution model)
  • Open-ended or ongoing operational costs without defined end dates
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Governance and Leadership

Clerk to the Trustees:

  • Mr Roger James (Email: randwjames@gmail.com, Phone: 0117 968 1864)

Trustee Body:

  • 10 trustees oversee grant-making decisions
  • Trustees meet twice annually to consider applications
  • The charity operates with no paid employees

The charity is regulated by the Charity Commission for England and Wales under its governing Scheme and works in consultation with the Bishop of Bristol on applications (arranged through the Diocese by the Clerk).

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Application Method:

  • Email application to Roger James, Clerk to the Trustees: randwjames@gmail.com
  • Use the combined application form available on the Temple Charity website
  • This is a single form that covers Temple Ecclesiastical Charity, Bristol Archdeaconry Charity, and St Thomas Ecclesiastical Charity
  • Applicants can apply to all three charities using the same form

Pre-Application Steps:

  • Applicants are encouraged to discuss their application in advance with Roger James
  • Carefully review the Grant Funding Criteria on the charity's website
  • Check that your project falls within the defined geographical area of benefit
  • The Bishop of Bristol will be consulted on applications (arranged by Roger James through the Diocese - do not contact the Bishop or Diocese directly)

Application Requirements:

  • Projects must be Church of England initiatives
  • Must be located within the area of benefit (map available on website)
  • Should demonstrate how the project serves communities in need
  • Must address environmental impact and consistency with Diocese's 2030 carbon-neutral target

Decision Timeline

Applications are considered at two trustees' meetings held annually. Specific meeting dates and submission deadlines are not publicly advertised - contact the Clerk to the Trustees for current deadlines.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies is not publicly available. Contact the Clerk to the Trustees for guidance on reapplying.

Application Success Factors

Key Preferences Stated by Trustees:

  1. Partial Funding Model: “The Trustees prefer to contribute to the cost of a project rather than paying the full cost” - demonstrate other funding sources and partnerships
  1. Time-Limited Projects: “They prefer applications which are limited in time” - clearly define project duration and end dates rather than requesting ongoing operational support
  1. Serving Communities in Need: “The Trustees give priority to projects which serve communities most in need” - emphasize how your project addresses poverty, exclusion, or vulnerability
  1. Environmental Responsibility: "The Trustees expect applicants to recognise the impact of their project on the environment and prefer applications which are consistent with the Bristol Diocese's target to be carbon-neutral by 2030" - address environmental considerations explicitly in your application
  1. Geographic Priority: Applications from St Mary Redcliffe parish receive priority consideration per the charity's Scheme
  1. Community Development Focus: Projects should “develop the life of the churches and communities in the Area of Benefit” - show broader community impact beyond internal church activities

Successful Project Examples:

The charity has funded practical community support projects including:

  • CAP Debt Centres providing free debt advice and pastoral support
  • Foodbanks addressing food insecurity
  • Community advice centres
  • Schools connection programs
  • Church-based initiatives helping people overcome poverty and exclusion

These examples suggest the charity values tangible, practical projects with measurable community benefit.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic eligibility is strictly defined - use the map on their website to confirm your location falls within the former Archdeaconry of Bristol; applications from St Mary Redcliffe parish receive priority
  • Pre-application contact is encouraged - discuss your project with Roger James before submitting; this is explicitly recommended by the charity
  • Demonstrate leverage not dependence - show how the charity's contribution will enable a larger project with other funding sources rather than requesting full project costs
  • Environmental credentials matter - explicitly address how your project aligns with the Diocese's 2030 carbon-neutral target
  • Focus on community need - emphasize how your project serves vulnerable or excluded communities rather than general church maintenance
  • Use the combined application strategically - the joint form allows you to apply to three Bristol ecclesiastical charities simultaneously
  • Time-limit your ask - frame requests as project funding with clear endpoints rather than ongoing operational support

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