MANCHESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE
Latest income
£14.5m
Latest spending
£17.6m
Registered
1966
Accounts read
FY2024
Financial health, per its FY2024 accounts
The accounts state that the charity recorded a deficit on General Unrestricted Funds of £0.849m, resulting in closing unrestricted reserves of £16.709m. Per the trustees' report, these reserves equate to just over 14 months' gross unrestricted expenditure, which is above the stated policy target of three to six months. The charity confirmed it is able to continue as a going concern with no material uncertainties identified.
What the accounts disclose
Reserves policy: three to six months' gross unrestricted expenditure (held: £16.7m)
“The target free reserves is currently set at an amount equivalent to a minimum of three months’ and a maximum of six months’ gross expenditure from unrestricted funds.” — page 22
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: MDBF paid Emmanuel Theological College for training, where two trustees served as directors.
“The Archdeacon of Bolton, The Ven Dr R Mann and the Bishop of Bolton the Rt Revd Matthew Porter served as a Trustee at Emmanuel Theological College during 2024 fees totalling £49,266(2023: £155,492) were paid for Ordinand and Reader training” — page 67
“The Archdeacon of Manchester Ven K Best served as Director of Benefact Trust Limited (Formerly Allchurches Trust Ltd) which provided a general grant to MDBF in 2024 for £177K” — page 67
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: MDBF received a grant from Benefact Trust, where a trustee served as a director.
“The Archdeacon of Bolton, The Ven Dr R Mann and the Bishop of Bolton the Rt Revd Matthew Porter served as a Trustee at Emmanuel Theological College during 2024 fees totalling £49,266(2023: £155,492) were paid for Ordinand and Reader training” — page 67
“The Archdeacon of Manchester Ven K Best served as Director of Benefact Trust Limited (Formerly Allchurches Trust Ltd) which provided a general grant to MDBF in 2024 for £177K” — page 67
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: MDBF received grant funding from Manchester City Centre Resource Church Trust, where two trustees served as directors.
“The Archdeacon of Bolton, The Ven Dr R Mann and the Bishop of Bolton the Rt Revd Matthew Porter served as a Trustee at Emmanuel Theological College during 2024 fees totalling £49,266(2023: £155,492) were paid for Ordinand and Reader training” — page 67
“The Archdeacon of Manchester Ven K Best served as Director of Benefact Trust Limited (Formerly Allchurches Trust Ltd) which provided a general grant to MDBF in 2024 for £177K” — page 67
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: MDBF paid rent and service charges to Manchester Cathedral Ventures Ltd, where a trustee served as a director.
“The Archdeacon of Bolton, The Ven Dr R Mann and the Bishop of Bolton the Rt Revd Matthew Porter served as a Trustee at Emmanuel Theological College during 2024 fees totalling £49,266(2023: £155,492) were paid for Ordinand and Reader training” — page 67
“The Archdeacon of Manchester Ven K Best served as Director of Benefact Trust Limited (Formerly Allchurches Trust Ltd) which provided a general grant to MDBF in 2024 for £177K” — page 67
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Trading subsidiary: Manchester Diocesan Church House Company Limited
“MDBF has a subsidiary undertaking, the Manchester Diocesan Church House Company Limited, whose principal activity was the provision of a Church House for Investment Property and Diocesan purposes.” — page 22
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Leadership, per the charity’s website
- The Right Reverend Dr David Walker — Bishop of Manchester
- The Right Reverend Dr Matthew Porter — Bishop of Bolton
- The Venerable Karen Best — Archdeacon of Manchester
- The Venerable Simon Cook — Archdeacon of Salford and Bolton
- The Venerable Karen Smeeton — Archdeacon of Rochdale
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2024)
Total income
£14.5m
Total spending
£17.6m
Cost of raising funds
£82k
Reserves (reported)
£18.9m
Employees
76
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (03/05/2016)
- Received assets from another charity (03/11/2015)
Trustees
- Andrea Pollock
- Archdeacon Karen Belinda Best
- Canon John Walsh
- Dr Louise Ruth Smail
- JEFFREY NORMAN DUNKERLEY
- Jessica Leaf
- KEITH LEWIS
- PHILIP GELDARD
- Philip Billson
- RT REV DAVID STUART WALKER
- Rev Amy Elizabeth Sheridan
- Rev Andrew Ian Salmon
- Rev Grace Ruth Elizabeth Thomas
- Rev Kathreen Shahbaz
- Rev Paul Hutchins
- Richard Molyneux Lewis
- Solomon John
- THE VERY REVEREND ROGERS MORGAN GOVENDER
- The Right Reverend Mark Davies
- The Rt Revd Dr Mathew James Porter
- Venerable Karen Louise Smeeton
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/12/2024 | £14.5m | £17.6m |
| 31/12/2023 | £15.0m | £16.1m |
| 31/12/2022 | £19.3m | £14.7m |
| 31/12/2021 | £17.9m | £16.4m |
| 31/12/2020 | £15.8m | £15.1m |
Common questions
Is MANCHESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE financially healthy?
The accounts state that the charity recorded a deficit on General Unrestricted Funds of £0.849m, resulting in closing unrestricted reserves of £16.709m. Per the trustees' report, these reserves equate to just over 14 months' gross unrestricted expenditure, which is above the stated policy target of three to six months. The charity confirmed it is able to continue as a going concern with no material uncertainties identified. Its FY2024 accounts were audited by HaysMac LLP.
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 17/06/2014 | £228k | "Rochdale Christ Church, Healey" |