THE LIVERPOOL DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE
Financial health, per its FY2024 accounts
The accounts state that the Diocese faced significant financial challenges, including a structural deficit and a shortfall in Parish Share collection, which was offset by one-off stabilisation funding from the national church. Despite these pressures, the unrestricted reserves stood at £10.9m, meeting the stated policy target of maintaining four months' operating expenditure, and the auditors confirmed no material uncertainties regarding the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.
What the accounts disclose
“The DBF aims to maintain the equivalent of at least four months’ operating expenditure in cash and equities in the General Fund.” — page 12
“Trustees have made the company’s auditors aware of the Charity Commission's ongoing investigation into the circumstances that led to the resignation of the former Bishop of Liverpool, the Right Reverend John Perumbalath, in January 2025. To date, the Commission has not confirmed the outcome of this investigation.” — page 15
“The Good Funerals Company Limited was established as a company limited by guarantee under the control of LDBF. The company itself remained dormant during 2023 and 2024, but all of its activities have been reported through the Diocesan accounts.” — page 38
Charity Commission inquiry
“the trustees failed to consider or investigate the complaint and did not follow the Commission’s guidance on safeguarding and therefore failed in their safeguarding duties.”
“There were insufficient processes and procedures in place to ensure that the trustees have adequate oversight of safeguarding and protecting those who come into the charity”
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2024)
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (13/10/2022)
Trustees
- Angela Michele Matthewson
- Canon Margaret Anne Swinson
- Carol Wilson
- Ian Crowe
- Philip John Stott
- Rev Canon Peter William Dawkin
- Rev Emma Louise Williams
- Richard Christopher Somer Denno
- Stephen Philip Derringer
- The Venerable Dr Miranda Threlfall-Holmes
- Venerable Peter Hendry Spiers
- Venerable Simon John Plumley Fisher
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/12/2024 | £15.8m | £14.9m |
| 31/12/2023 | £14.3m | £14.3m |
| 31/12/2022 | £15.4m | £14.7m |
| 31/12/2021 | £15.0m | £14.6m |
| 31/12/2020 | £15.1m | £13.6m |
Common questions
Is THE LIVERPOOL DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE financially healthy?
The accounts state that the Diocese faced significant financial challenges, including a structural deficit and a shortfall in Parish Share collection, which was offset by one-off stabilisation funding from the national church. Despite these pressures, the unrestricted reserves stood at £10.9m, meeting the stated policy target of maintaining four months' operating expenditure, and the auditors confirmed no material uncertainties regarding the charity's ability to continue as a going concern. Its FY2024 accounts were audited by Mitchell Charlesworth (Audit) Limited.
Who funds THE LIVERPOOL DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE?
Funders whose own accounts filings name THE LIVERPOOL DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE as a grant recipient include THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF WIGAN WEST, THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST MICHAEL, AUGHTON LIVERPOOL, THE MASON BIBBY 1981 TRUST.
Shared trustees with funders
- Angela Michele Matthewson — trustee here and at THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF WIGAN WEST
Known funders
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 28/11/1997 | £71k | "All Saints Church, Speke, Liverpool" |