CORNWALL HISTORIC CHURCHES TRUST

Registered charity 218340 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

The Cornwall Historic Churches Trust was formed in 1955 to assist in the restoration and repair of Cornish churches which have architectural or historic merit. The Trust is a registered charity and churches and chapels of all denominations are eligible to apply for assistance.

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

Latest income

£333k

Latest spending

£177k

Registered

1964

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that total income increased significantly to £333,293, largely due to a £250,000 legacy, resulting in a net inflow of funds. However, the trustees report that grant giving has reached an unsustainable level relative to current revenue, with grants approved exceeding average annual amounts. The charity holds unrestricted reserves of £627,369, which includes a designated capital reserve, to manage the gap between income and expenditure.

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

What the accounts disclose

Reserves policy: 50% of capital designated as capital reserve; 50% considered expendable reserve (held: £627k)

“The Trustees have therefore determined that of the CHCT’s capital 50% be designated a capital reserve; and 50% be considered an expendable reserve” — page 7

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.

Public fundraising profile: JustGiving — Cornwall Historic Churches Trust (matched by registered charity number).

Funders the charity credits

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

Raymond James Truro — “Thanks to 181 friends, including a number of their children, and to our sponsors Raymond James Truro for underwriting the event, the evening…” (source page)

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

Trustees · trustee networks

Caroline Tetleychair
Cecilia Rose Mary Bisson
David Richard Purser
Jeremy Charles Granville Sharp · trustee of 2 other charities
Trelawny Michael Williams · trustee of 1 other charity
Willa Anne Phillippa Bailey

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

Operates in: Cornwall

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/12/2025	£333k	£177k
31/12/2024	£93k	£86k
31/12/2023	£77k	£65k
31/12/2022	£84k	£36k
31/12/2021	£74k	£49k

Common questions

Is CORNWALL HISTORIC CHURCHES TRUST financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that total income increased significantly to £333,293, largely due to a £250,000 legacy, resulting in a net inflow of funds. However, the trustees report that grant giving has reached an unsustainable level relative to current revenue, with grants approved exceeding average annual amounts. The charity holds unrestricted reserves of £627,369, which includes a designated capital reserve, to manage the gap between income and expenditure. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.

Who funds CORNWALL HISTORIC CHURCHES TRUST?

Funders whose own accounts filings name CORNWALL HISTORIC CHURCHES TRUST as a grant recipient include THE DUKE OF CORNWALL'S CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, THE CORNWALL HERITAGE TRUST LIMITED, THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST MARTIN, LISKEARD.

Known funders

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

Funder	Year	Amount	Purpose (as stated by the funder)
THE DUKE OF CORNWALL'S CHARITABLE FOUNDATION	FY2022	£35k
THE DUKE OF CORNWALL'S CHARITABLE FOUNDATION	FY2023	£30k
THE DUKE OF CORNWALL'S CHARITABLE FOUNDATION	FY2025	£20k
THE CORNWALL HERITAGE TRUST LIMITED	FY2022	£5k	Annual grant
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST MARTIN, LISKEARD	FY2024	£241	Missionary and charitable giving
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST MARTIN, LISKEARD	FY2023	£25	Missionary and charitable giving
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST MARTIN, LISKEARD	FY2022	£25	Donation

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 ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE FUND	2	£139k
THE ADRIAN SWIRE CHARITABLE TRUST	2	£45k
THE MCCORQUODALE CHARITABLE TRUST	2	£10k
THE IAN ASKEW CHARITABLE TRUST	2	£3k
CHURCH COMMISSIONERS FOR ENGLAND	1	£1.4m
The John Gurney Charitable Trust	1	£110k
THE JOHN R. MURRAY CHARITABLE TRUST	1	£68k
THE ELMLEY FOUNDATION	1	£60k

Charities like this

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

THE HEREFORDSHIRE HISTORIC CHURCHES TRUST income £148k
THE CORNWALL BUILDINGS PRESERVATION TRUST income £150k
THE DORSET HISTORIC CHURCHES TRUST income £152k
THE SUFFOLK HISTORIC CHURCHES TRUST income £276k
GLOUCESTERSHIRE HISTORIC CHURCHES TRUST income £266k
CHURCHES CONSERVATION TRUST income £12.0m

Side by side with its peers

Charity	Income	Top pay band	Reserves vs policy	Fundraising cost	Going concern
CORNWALL HISTORIC CHURCHES TRUST	£333k	—	unclear	—	no doubt
THE HEREFORDSHIRE HISTORIC CHURCHES TRUST FY2024	£148k	—	unclear	—	no doubt
THE CORNWALL BUILDINGS PRESERVATION TRUST FY2025	£150k	—	unclear	—	no doubt
THE DORSET HISTORIC CHURCHES TRUST FY2025	£152k	—	unclear	—	no doubt
THE SUFFOLK HISTORIC CHURCHES TRUST FY2023	£276k	—	unclear	—	no doubt
GLOUCESTERSHIRE HISTORIC CHURCHES TRUST FY2025	£266k	—	unclear	—	no doubt

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