THE NATIONAL CHURCHES TRUST

Registered charity 1119845 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

The Charity's objects are to promote the conservation, repair, maintenance, improvement, upkeep, beautification and reconstruction of churches in the United Kingdom and of monuments, fittings, fixtures, stained glass, furniture, ornaments, organs, bells in such churches; and to promote the building, enlargement and development of churches in the United Kingdom.

Causes: Arts/culture/heritage/science · Environment/conservation/heritage · Grant history (this charity is a funder) · website · Get email alerts

Latest income

£5.2m

Latest spending

£4.2m

Registered

2007

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity achieved a surplus of £757,193 for the year, with total income rising to £5.2 million. Per the trustees' report, unrestricted reserves stood at £3.71 million, which is above the stated policy range of £2.1 million to £3.4 million. The charity reports no material uncertainties regarding its ability to continue as a going concern.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Highest-paid employee band: £70,001 - £80,000 — above the median for charities its size (£70k)

“One member of staff earned within the range of £70,000 to £79,999 per annum and two staff members earned within the range of £60,000 to £69,999”

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Employees paid over £60,000: 3

“One member of staff earned within the range of £70,000 to £79,999 per annum and two staff members earned within the range of £60,000 to £69,999”

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Reserves policy: 75% to 125% of previous year's unrestricted non grant expenditure plus £1 million (held: £3.7m)

“The trustees regard it as appropriate to maintain the combined unrestricted and HCPT reserves at an amount within a range of 75% to 125% of the National Churches Trust’s previous year's unrestricted non grant expenditure plus £1 million” — page 30

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Related-party transaction: Trustee employment

“A close family member of the Chair was employed by the charity during the year on a temporary contract. Employment terms and pay were consistent with those offered to other staff for similar roles.”

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts audited by Buzzacott Audit LLP. Discloses 6 of 6 completeness components.

Year-over-year changes

Top pay band moved from £70,000 - £79,999 (FY2024) to £70,001 - £80,000 (FY2025).

Comparing this charity’s FY2024 and FY2025 accounts as analysed by this site.

In the news

Recent coverage mentioning this charity by name (automated match; headlines belong to their publishers).

National Churches Trust reports total income of £5.2 million churchtimes.co.uk · 17/09/2026
Conwy church is Wales’ only finalist for the National Churches Trust Award herald.wales · 10/08/2026
National Churches Trust: End 'unfair' VAT on historic church repairs christiantoday.com · 23/05/2026
National Churches Trust Medium Grants for Churches (UK) www2.fundsforngos.org · 17/03/2026
National Churches Trust launches Small Grant Program (UK) www2.fundsforngos.org · 15/10/2025
National Churches Trust announces Large Grant (UK) www2.fundsforngos.org · 15/10/2025
Open Call for National Churches Trust Medium Grants (UK) www2.fundsforngos.org · 15/10/2025
More historic churches in jeopardy, National Churches Trust reports churchtimes.co.uk · 12/09/2025

Corporate structure

Registered company of the charity Companies House 06265201

Funders the charity credits

Named as funders/supporters on the charity’s own website (the charity’s claim, distinct from accounts-verified grants).

Wolfson Foundation — “We also partner with other Trusts and Foundations, such as the Wolfson Foundation, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Jane Hodge Founda…” (source page)
The National Lottery Heritage Fund — “We also partner with other Trusts and Foundations, such as the Wolfson Foundation, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Jane Hodge Founda…” (source page)
Jane Hodge Foundation — “We also partner with other Trusts and Foundations, such as the Wolfson Foundation, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Jane Hodge Founda…” (source page)
Department for Communities — “We also partner with other Trusts and Foundations, such as the Wolfson Foundation, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Jane Hodge Founda…” (source page)

Company officers (Companies House)

Current officers of the charity’s own company per the Companies House register, cross-checked against the Charity Commission trustee list by name. A director not on the trustee list is usually a timing or naming difference between the two registers — check both records before drawing conclusions.

FAULL, Vivienne Frances, The Rt Revd — director, appointed 26/03/2026on trustee list
DANCE, Deborah Jane — director, appointed 25/09/2025on trustee list
RENNIE, Scott Martin, The Revd Dr — director, appointed 25/09/2025on trustee list
KWAKU-ODOI, Charles — director, appointed 12/06/2025on trustee list
RUTNAM, Philip Mcdougall, Sir — director, appointed 22/09/2022on trustee list
WALTER, Nigel Hugh, Dr — director, appointed 16/12/2021on trustee list
STEWART, Sarah Lesley — director, appointed 16/12/2021on trustee list
STANFORD, Henry Julian Aglionby — director, appointed 12/03/2019on trustee list
PEPINSTER, Catherine Mary — director, appointed 12/12/2018on trustee list
MCDONALD, Catherine Donna — director, appointed 12/12/2018on trustee list
WALKER, Claire — secretary, appointed 20/09/2011

Official officers record.

Property (HM Land Registry)

1 registered title in England and Wales held by the charity’s company or corporate body (0 freehold). All charity-held property. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.

Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): facebook · instagram

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2025)

Total income

£5.2m

Total spending

£4.2m

Cost of raising funds

£476k

Reserves (reported)

£3.3m

Employees

Reported reserves equal ~9.5 months of spending — above the median for charities its size (median 4.8 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, cost of raising funds: 9.1% of total income — above the median for charities its size (5.2%) (benchmarks).

Register events

Received assets from another charity (15/07/2024) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.
Received assets from another charity (11/12/2023) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.

Trustees · trustee networks

CATHERINE DONNA MCDONALD
Catherine Marie Pepinster · trustee of 1 other charity
Christopher Paul Jones Mr
Deborah Jane Dance · trustee of 1 other charity
Dr Nigel Hugh Walter · trustee of 1 other charity
GERALD MICHAEL NOLAN CORBETT · trustee of 1 other charity
Henry Julian Aglionby Stanford
Rev Canon Charles Kwaku-Odoi
Rev Scott Rennie
Rev Vivienne Frances Faull
Sarah Lesley Stewart · trustee of 1 other charity
Sir Philip McDougall Rutnam · trustee of 2 other charities

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Ireland · Scotland · Throughout England And Wales

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/12/2025	£5.2m	£4.2m
31/12/2024	£3.7m	£4.5m
31/12/2023	£5.0m	£3.5m
31/12/2022	£2.8m	£2.9m
31/12/2021	£6.5m	£6.4m

Common questions

Is THE NATIONAL CHURCHES TRUST financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity achieved a surplus of £757,193 for the year, with total income rising to £5.2 million. Per the trustees' report, unrestricted reserves stood at £3.71 million, which is above the stated policy range of £2.1 million to £3.4 million. The charity reports no material uncertainties regarding its ability to continue as a going concern. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Buzzacott Audit LLP.

What does the highest-paid employee of THE NATIONAL CHURCHES TRUST earn?

Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the £70,001 - £80,000 band, and 3 employees earned over £60,000.

Who funds THE NATIONAL CHURCHES TRUST?

Funders whose own accounts filings name THE NATIONAL CHURCHES TRUST as a grant recipient include THE DULVERTON TRUST, THE HEADLEY TRUST, CHARITY OF SIR RICHARD WHITTINGTON, PAUL AND LOUISE COOKE ENDOWMENT, THE BEATRICE LAING TRUST.

Known funders

Grants to this charity found in funders’ own accounts filings.

Funder	Year	Amount	Purpose (as stated by the funder)
THE DULVERTON TRUST	FY2024	£450k	Grants for churches
THE HEADLEY TRUST	FY2025	£100k	To award parish church grants on behalf of the Headley Trust, subject to certain specifications.
THE HEADLEY TRUST	FY2023	£100k	Grant of £100,000 was made to the National Churches Trust for 2023/24 to make similar grants to parish churches.
CHARITY OF SIR RICHARD WHITTINGTON	FY2022	£100k	Church & Communities Programme
PAUL AND LOUISE COOKE ENDOWMENT	FY2025	£94k
THE BEATRICE LAING TRUST	FY2025	£50k	Larger Grants Match Fund - Structural Repair Projects
The Goldsmiths' Foundation	FY2022	£50k	Culture
THE CECIL KING MEMORIAL FOUNDATION	FY2023	£45k	Conservation and Preservation
THE CECIL KING MEMORIAL FOUNDATION	FY2024	£45k	Conservation and Preservation
THE CECIL KING MEMORIAL FOUNDATION	FY2025	£45k	Conservation and Preservation
THE BEATRICE LAING TRUST	FY2023	£25k	Repair Grants Programme (Last of 5 grants)
THE BEATRICE LAING TRUST	FY2022	£25k	Repair Grants Programme
THE A S CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2025	£23k
THE KATHLEEN HANNAY MEMORIAL CHARITY	FY2025	£15k
THE KATHLEEN HANNAY MEMORIAL CHARITY	FY2024	£15k
THE ROGER & DOUGLAS TURNER CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2025	£10k
THE ROGER & DOUGLAS TURNER CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2024	£10k
THE ROGER & DOUGLAS TURNER CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2022	£10k
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF SWAYTHLING	FY2022	£10k	Cornerstone Grant
PAUL AND LOUISE COOKE ENDOWMENT	FY2024	£5k
G M MORRISON CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2025	£3k
THE JACK PATSTON CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2022	£3k
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST.WILFRID, GRAPPENHALL	FY2025	£3k	Grant received by St Wilfrid's (Note: St Wilfrid's received this grant. It did not make it.)
G M MORRISON CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2024	£3k
G M MORRISON CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	£3k
THE MCCORQUODALE CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2025	£2k
THE GIBBS CHARITABLE TRUSTS	FY2025	£2k	Other Christian causes
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST LAURENCE, NORTHFIELD BIRMINGHAM	FY2023	£2k	repointing work
G M MORRISON CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2022	£1k
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST NICHOLAS WARWICK	FY2022	£1k
THE W E DUNN TRUST	FY2022	£1k	Religion
THE W E DUNN TRUST	FY2025	£1k
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF BRIGHTON, ST PETER	FY2024	£500	Mission Giving
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF HOLY TRINITY, ASHBY DE LA ZOUCH	FY2023	£500	Tithe/Charitable Giving
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF BRIGHTON, ST PETER	FY2021	£500
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF BRIGHTON, ST PETER	FY2024	£500	Mission Giving
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST NICHOLAS WARWICK	FY2023	£250	Charitable Donations from St Nicholas
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF HOLY TRINITY, ASHBY DE LA ZOUCH	FY2022	£250	Church Tithe
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST NICHOLAS WARWICK	FY2025	£250	Charitable Donations from St Nicholas
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST NICHOLAS WARWICK	FY2024	£250	Charitable Donations from St Nicholas
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ALL HALLOWS ALLERTON, LIVERPOOL	FY2022	£235	Other home Mission
The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Portsdown and Purbrook	FY2022	£200	Mission Support
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF SAFFRON WALDEN	FY2025	£150
TAUNTON MINSTER (THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST MARY MAGDALENE, TAUNTON)	FY2023	£108
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF CHRIST CHURCH, CAMBERWELL	FY2024	£103	Donations (Note 5(e))
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF SAFFRON WALDEN	FY2022	£100
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF HOLY TRINITY, ASHBY DE LA ZOUCH	FY2024	£100	Tithe
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF SAFFRON WALDEN	FY2023	£100
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF SAFFRON WALDEN	FY2024	£100
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF HOLY TRINITY, ASHBY DE LA ZOUCH	FY2025	£100	Church Tithe

Government & lottery funding

Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).

Funder	Date	Amount	Purpose
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	13/12/2022	£1.9m	"Places of Worship Strategic Capacity Building Project"
The Mercers' Company	06/10/2021	£100k	Grant to National Churches Trust
The Mercers' Company	06/10/2020	£50k	Grant to National Churches Trust
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	03/03/2020	£496k	"Treasure Ireland"
The Mercers' Company	28/03/2019	£100k	Grant to National Churches Trust
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	21/02/2019	£8k	"Lincolnshire Wolds Churches Festival"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	23/01/2018	£49k	"ExploreChurches: Great Interpretations"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	15/06/2016	£90k	"Yorkshire Maintenance Project"

Funders of similar charities

Funders whose accounts show grants to charities similar to this one (and no recorded grant to this charity) — a starting list for fundraisers.

Funder	Similar charities funded	Amount to them
THE IAN ASKEW CHARITABLE TRUST	2	£3k
CHURCH COMMISSIONERS FOR ENGLAND	1	£1.4m
THE GEOFFREY WATLING CHARITY	1	£265k
THE ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE FUND	1	£120k
The John Gurney Charitable Trust	1	£110k
THE JOHN R. MURRAY CHARITABLE TRUST	1	£68k
THE ELMLEY FOUNDATION	1	£60k
THE R C SNELLING CHARITABLE TRUST	1	£55k

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with THE NORFOLK CHURCHES TRUST LIMITED.

THE NORFOLK CHURCHES TRUST LIMITED income £451k
CHURCHES CONSERVATION TRUST income £12.0m
THE NORWICH HISTORIC CHURCHES TRUST LIMITED income £321k
THE NORTHUMBRIA HISTORIC CHURCHES TRUST income £456k
THE SUFFOLK HISTORIC CHURCHES TRUST income £276k
GLOUCESTERSHIRE HISTORIC CHURCHES TRUST income £266k

Side by side with its peers

Charity	Income	Top pay band	Staff >£60k	Reserves vs policy	Fundraising cost	Going concern
THE NATIONAL CHURCHES TRUST	£5.2m	£70,001 - £80,000	3	unclear	—	no doubt
THE NORFOLK CHURCHES TRUST LIMITED FY2025	£451k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
CHURCHES CONSERVATION TRUST FY2025	£12.0m	£80,000 - £90,000	5	unclear	—	no doubt
THE NORWICH HISTORIC CHURCHES TRUST LIMITED FY2025	£321k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
THE NORTHUMBRIA HISTORIC CHURCHES TRUST FY2025	£456k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
THE SUFFOLK HISTORIC CHURCHES TRUST FY2023	£276k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt

Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.