William Gibbs Religious And Educational Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Income: £388,767 (2024)
• Annual Expenditure: £185,580 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Varies by program - Choral scholarships up to £240/week
• Geographic Focus: Ecclesiastical parish of St. John the Evangelist with St. Michael and All Angels, Paddington and adjacent parishes (Westminster, London)

Contact Details

• Address: St Johns Church, Hyde Park Crescent, London W2 2QD
• Email: parishadmin@stjohns-hydepark.com
• Phone: 020 7262 1732
• For Choral Scholarship Enquiries: Contact Nick Miller, Director of Music, through the online form at St John's Hyde Park website

Overview

The William Gibbs Religious and Educational Trust (charity number 1086771) is a geographically focused educational charity serving the Paddington area of Westminster, London. The trust was established to further the education of children and adults in the ecclesiastical parish of St. John the Evangelist with St. Michael and All Angels, Paddington, and adjacent parishes. With an annual income of £388,767 (2024) and expenditure of £185,580, the trust operates two primary funding streams: providing educational resources to local schools (particularly English language tuition for students for whom English is not their first language) and offering financial assistance to full-time students living or studying in the area. The trust is governed by five trustees, none of whom receive remuneration. The most visible program is the trust's generous support of the choral scholarship scheme at St John's Hyde Park, which provides up to £240 per week to eight vocal students annually.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Choral Scholarship Program (application process available)

• Amount: Up to £240 per week
• Recipients: 8 positions annually (SSAATTBB - 2 sopranos, 2 altos, 2 tenors, 2 basses)
• Duration: September to July (academic year)
• Eligibility: Full-time music students who can live in the parish or adjoining area
• Application Method: Annual audition process with fixed deadline (typically early May)

Educational Grants to Schools (no public application process)

• Provision of educational resources to schools in the area of benefit
• Emphasis on English language tuition for students for whom English is not their first language

Student Financial Assistance (no clear public application process)

• Grants to children and adults in need of financial assistance
• For those living or studying in the area who attend schools or receive further education or vocational training
• Available for students attending voluntary aided Church of England schools or other educational institutions

Priority Areas

• English Language Support: Particularly for students for whom English is not their first language
• Church of England Educational Work: Supporting the educational and charitable work of the Church of England in the designated parish
• Financial Need: Supporting students who demonstrate genuine financial need
• Full-Time Education: Students must be enrolled in full-time education or vocational training
• Choral Music Education: Supporting vocal students pursuing music education

Geographic Restrictions

CRITICAL: The trust exclusively serves the ecclesiastical parish of St. John the Evangelist with St. Michael and All Angels, Paddington and adjacent parishes in the City of Westminster. Organizations or individuals outside this geographic area are not eligible.

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not documented, but the trust is limited to:

• Only the designated geographic area in Paddington and adjacent parishes
• Educational purposes only (both religious and secular education)
• The trust does not operate any trading subsidiaries

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Governance and Leadership

The trust is governed by five trustees, all of whom serve without remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. Specific names of individual trustees are not publicly available through the Charity Commission register.

The choral scholarship program is administered in partnership with Nick Miller, Director of Music at St John's Hyde Park, who handles applications and auditions for the vocal scholarship program.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The William Gibbs Religious and Educational Trust does not have a public application process for most of its grant programs. The majority of the trust's work is conducted through direct relationships with schools in the designated parish area and through trustee-led initiatives.

Exception - Choral Scholarship Program:

This is the only program with a publicly available application process:

• Application Deadline: Typically early May (9am Thursday, May 1 for 2025-26 academic year)
• Audition Date: Mid-May (Saturday, May 10, 2025)
• Application Method: Contact Nick Miller, Director of Music, through the online form at the St John's Hyde Park choral scholarships page
• Audition Requirements:
• One solo from Handel's Messiah
• One contrasting work (preferably opera or musical theatre)
• Sight-reading tests
• Eligibility:
• Must be in full-time education during tenure
• Must be able to live in the parish or an adjoining area
• Suitable for vocal students from London music colleges

Decision Timeline

Choral Scholarships: Decisions are typically made shortly after auditions in May, for positions beginning in September.

Other Grants: Not publicly available, as there is no public application process.

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available. The choral scholarship program awards exactly 8 positions annually, making it highly competitive.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies are not publicly documented. For choral scholarships, tenure typically runs for one academic year (September to July).

Application Success Factors

Given the lack of a public application process for most programs, the following insights apply primarily to the choral scholarship program:

For Choral Scholarships:

1. Geographic Eligibility is Essential: According to the St John's Hyde Park website, candidates “must be in full-time education during their tenure and be able to live in the parish or an adjoining area.” This is a strict requirement linked to the trust's charitable objects.

1. Musical Preparation: The audition requires both classical sacred repertoire (Handel's Messiah) and contrasting material (opera or musical theatre), demonstrating the trust's support for students pursuing professional singing careers. As noted on the website, “many of whom go on to very successful careers in opera, oratorio and other singing work.”

1. Full-Time Student Status: Scholarship recipients must maintain full-time educational enrollment throughout their tenure.

1. Sight-Reading Competency: The inclusion of sight-reading tests indicates that functional choral singing skills are valued alongside solo vocal ability.

For Other Programs:

Without a public application process, grants appear to be awarded through:

• Direct relationships between trustees and local schools
• Identification of need by parish clergy or school administrators
• Connection to St John's Church, Hyde Park, and its associated community

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Geographic Limitation is Absolute: Unless you serve the ecclesiastical parish of St. John the Evangelist with St. Michael and All Angels, Paddington, or adjacent parishes in Westminster, this trust cannot fund your work.
• Limited Public Access: The choral scholarship is the only program with a transparent, public application process.
• Relationship-Based Giving: Most grants appear to flow through established relationships with local schools and community organizations.
• No General Application Route: There is no general grant application form or process for schools or students seeking educational support.
• Choral Scholarships are Highly Competitive: With only 8 positions available annually and the requirement to live locally while attending London music colleges, this program serves a very specific niche.
• Financial Strength: With income nearly double expenditure (£388,767 vs £185,580 in 2024), the trust appears financially strong and potentially has capacity to expand programming.
• English Language Support: Schools in the area seeking resources for English language tuition may wish to approach the trust through their connections to St John's Church or the local parish network.

References

• Charity Commission Register - William Gibbs Religious and Educational Trust -
• St John's Hyde Park - Choral Scholarships -
• St John's Hyde Park - A Strong Choral Tradition -
• TotalGiving - William Gibbs Religious and Educational Trust -