CHURCHES CONSERVATION TRUST

Registered charity 258612 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as REDUNDANT CHURCHES FUND

The CCT is registered as a charity (number 258612) . Its governing document is the Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011. Its main object is the preservation, in the interests of the nation and of the Church of England, of redundant churches and parts of churches of historic and archaeological interest or architectural quality vested in the Trust, together with their contents.

Causes: Arts/culture/heritage/science · Environment/conservation/heritage · website · Get email alerts

Latest income

£12.0m

Latest spending

£12.1m

Registered

1969

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that total income decreased by 2% to £12 million, while total expenditure fell to £12.1 million, resulting in a small net deficit of £17,786. Free unrestricted reserves stood at £1,030,585, which is above the Trustees' stated policy target of £500,000. The Trustees consider the current reserve level prudent given major ongoing works and rising costs, and confirm the charity is well-placed to manage its risks successfully.

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

What the accounts disclose

Highest-paid employee band: £80,000 - £90,000 — below the median for charities its size (£130k)

“As at 31 March 2025, the highest paid director was paid in the £80,000 to £90,000 band.” — page 26

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Employees paid over £60,000: 5

“As at 31 March five employees (2023-2024: four) earned over £60,000.” — page 42

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Largest income source: Grant-in-Aid (38% of income)

“Grant-in-Aid from DCMS and the Church Commissioners provided £4.6 million, equivalent to 38% of income” — page 21

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Reserves policy: £500,000 (held: £1.0m)

“The Trustees consider £500,000 of Free Unrestricted Reserves are required after taking into account: annual operational expenditure; short-term fluctuations in income; unexpected repair issues; adequate working capital; budgetary risks arising from major projects; and uncertainty in future income.” — page 21

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Trading subsidiary: Churches Conservation Trust Enterprises Ltd

“The CCT has a trading subsidiary, Churches Conservation Trust Enterprises Ltd (company number 08125965).” — page 46

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts audited by Forvis Mazars LLP. Discloses 6 of 6 completeness components.

Year-over-year changes

Top pay band moved from £80,001 - £90,000 (FY2024) to £80,000 - £90,000 (FY2025).
Employees paid over £60,000: 4 (FY2024) → 5 (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).

Churches Conservation Trust: 15th April 2026 gov.uk · 15/04/2026
Appointment of Churches Conservation Trust members: 1 August 2025 gov.uk · 01/08/2025
Spotlight on The Churches Conservation Trust - filminginengland.co.uk · 11/03/2025
Our Churches on Screen: Filming with the Churches Conservation Trust - filminginengland.co.uk · 27/11/2024
Churches Conservation Trust axes Katie Hopkins controversial event premierchristian.news · 28/08/2024
General Synod digest: Churches Conservation Trust churchtimes.co.uk · 24/11/2023
Architect Tanvir appointed to England’s Churches Conservation Trust dawn.com · 11/02/2023
New Churches Conservation Trust partnership york.ac.uk · 20/06/2018

Public fundraising profile: JustGiving — The Churches Conservation 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).

The Pilgrim Trust — “The Pilgrim Trust have awarded £25,000 towards the crypt repair project at St John on the Wall in Bristol” (source page)

Property (HM Land Registry)

342 registered titles in England and Wales held by the charity’s company or corporate body (342 freehold). All charity-held property. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)

Total income

£12.0m

Total spending

£12.1m

Cost of raising funds

£1.4m

Reserves (reported)

£1.0m

Employees

79

Reported reserves equal ~1.0 months of spending — in the bottom quarter for charities its size (median 4.6 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, cost of raising funds: 11.8% of total income — above the median for charities its size (3.8%) (benchmarks).

Register events

Received assets from another charity (05/01/2024) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.
Received assets from another charity (05/01/2024) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.
Received assets from another charity (20/10/2023) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.
Received assets from another charity (08/04/2019) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.
Received assets from another charity (21/01/2014) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.
Received assets from another charity (25/07/2013) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.

Trustees · trustee networks

Andrew Neil Morgan
Dr Andrew Rumsey
Dr Ingrid Samuel
Erin Walsh
IRENE VIVIENNE KING · trustee of 1 other charity
MS Liz Peace
Michael Bithell
Rev TIMOTHY GOODE
Sally Jane Watson · trustee of 1 other charity
Stephen Parkinson
Tanvir Hasan

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

Operates in: Throughout England

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/03/2025	£12.0m	£12.1m
31/03/2024	£12.3m	£12.2m
31/03/2023	£9.9m	£9.6m
31/03/2022	£11.7m	£11.4m
31/03/2021	£11.1m	£11.1m

Common questions

Is CHURCHES CONSERVATION TRUST financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that total income decreased by 2% to £12 million, while total expenditure fell to £12.1 million, resulting in a small net deficit of £17,786. Free unrestricted reserves stood at £1,030,585, which is above the Trustees' stated policy target of £500,000. The Trustees consider the current reserve level prudent given major ongoing works and rising costs, and confirm the charity is well-placed to manage its risks successfully. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Forvis Mazars LLP.

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

Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the £80,000 - £90,000 band, and 5 employees earned over £60,000.

Who funds CHURCHES CONSERVATION TRUST?

Funders whose own accounts filings name CHURCHES CONSERVATION TRUST as a grant recipient include CHURCH COMMISSIONERS FOR ENGLAND, THE ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE FUND, THE ELMLEY FOUNDATION, THE WARDENS AND ASSISTANTS OF ROCHESTER BRIDGE IN THE COUNTY OF KENT, THE LOPPYLUGS AND BARBARA MORRISON CHARITABLE TRUST.

Known funders

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

Funder	Year	Amount	Purpose (as stated by the funder)
CHURCH COMMISSIONERS FOR ENGLAND	FY2022	£1.4m	Statutory grant
THE ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE FUND	FY2022	£100k	Transformational Capital Grant
THE ELMLEY FOUNDATION	FY2023	£30k
THE ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE FUND	FY2022	£20k	Project Development Grant
THE ELMLEY FOUNDATION	FY2025	£14k
THE WARDENS AND ASSISTANTS OF ROCHESTER BRIDGE IN THE COUNTY OF KENT	FY2022	£12k	restoration of the spire at St Mary's Church, Higham
THE ELMLEY FOUNDATION	FY2024	£12k
THE LOPPYLUGS AND BARBARA MORRISON CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2024	£10k
THE LOPPYLUGS AND BARBARA MORRISON CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	£9k
THE LOPPYLUGS AND BARBARA MORRISON CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2022	£8k	general charitable objectives
SIR JOHN PRIESTMAN CHARITY TRUST	FY2021	£8k	Section 2 1 Maintenance of Churches and Church Buildin s
THE MCCORQUODALE CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2025	£5k
THE BARTLETT FOUNDATION	FY2022	£5k	Grants for Further Education and Charitable Causes
THE ELMLEY FOUNDATION	FY2022	£5k
The Belstead Ganzoni Charitable Settlement	FY2023	£2k
THE JACK PATSTON CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2024	£2k
THE JACK PATSTON CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2022	£2k
THE IAN ASKEW CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2022	£1k	Grant
SALTERS' CHARITABLE FOUNDATION	FY2023	£1k	Relief of Need - City
THE BARTLETT FOUNDATION	FY2023	£1k	Grants for Further Education and Charitable Causes
THE TORY FAMILY FOUNDATION	FY2023	£1k
SALTERS' CHARITABLE FOUNDATION	FY2024	£900	Relief of Need - City
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST MARY THE LESS, CAMBRIDGE	FY2022	£125
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF SOUTH PETHERTON WITH THE SEAVINGTONS AND THE LAMBROOKS	FY2023	£50
CHURCH COMMISSIONERS FOR ENGLAND	FY2023	£2	Other activities
CHURCH COMMISSIONERS FOR ENGLAND	FY2024	£2	Statutory grant

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	14/09/2022	£394k	"The Chamber at St Johns"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	24/06/2022	£247k	"The past, present and future of St MaryÂ’s Stained-Glass"
UK government	01/04/2022	£9k	Find A Use Project Officer - Manchester: c/o The Churches Conservation Trust, Society Building, 8, All Saints Street, London
UK government	01/04/2021	£35k	Find A Use Project Officer - Manchester: c/o The Churches Conservation Trust, Society Building, 8, All Saints Street, London
UK government	01/04/2021	£2.0m	Churches Conservation Trust Portfolio of Grants for Programmes of Major Works
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	10/08/2020	£10k	"COVID-19 Churches Conservation TrustChurches Conservation Trust"
UK government	01/04/2020	£30k	ALB-Historic England - Find A Use Manchester - The Churches Conservation Trust
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	15/03/2018	£2.0m	"Built for Exchange: The Renewal of Sudbury's Central Space"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	15/08/2017	£3k	"Major Reginald John Ponsonby Cox Glass War Memorial repairs St Mary's Church, Itchen Stoke"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	18/01/2016	£56k	"Exploring All Saints"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	05/08/2015	£9k	"Discovering Hidden Somerset"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	10/06/2015	£48k	"Hidden Secrets: Torbryan Holy Trinity"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	19/05/2015	£3.8m	"The Canny Space at Holy Trinity Sunderland"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	16/04/2015	£10k	"WWI: The Untold Stories of St John the Evangelist Leeds"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	17/03/2015	£2.2m	"Sound and Art at St Swithun's"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	19/02/2015	£10k	"Milton Mausoleum: Memorials and Memories"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	28/04/2014	£9k	"St Michael's and All Angels Regeneration Project"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	12/02/2014	£9k	"Stamford St John: Uncovering memories of the First World War"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	20/01/2014	£95k	"St Marys, Visitors Welcome"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	10/09/2013	£3.2m	"St Peter and the Old Black Lion, Northampton"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	21/05/2013	£500k	"History for the Future - protecting historic features and artefacts"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	20/03/2013	£45k	"A Window in Time"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	02/05/2012	£37k	"All Saints Langport, Youth Project"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	12/10/2011	£39k	"For Whom the Bell Tolls - Interpretation and improved access at St Peter's, Sandwich"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	07/10/2011	£41k	"St George's Portland - A Treasure Trove of Tales"

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
PAUL AND LOUISE COOKE ENDOWMENT	2	£150k
LEICESTER CATHEDRAL CHARITABLE TRUST	1	£3.5m
THE DULVERTON TRUST	1	£450k
THE LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE	1	£374k
THE GEOFFREY WATLING CHARITY	1	£265k
THE HEADLEY TRUST	1	£200k
THE CECIL KING MEMORIAL FOUNDATION	1	£135k
CHARITY OF SIR RICHARD WHITTINGTON	1	£100k

Charities like this

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

THE NORWICH HISTORIC CHURCHES TRUST LIMITED income £321k
THE NATIONAL CHURCHES TRUST income £5.2m
THE HISTORIC CHAPELS TRUST income £2.2m
THE SUFFOLK HISTORIC CHURCHES TRUST income £276k
CORNWALL HISTORIC CHURCHES TRUST income £333k
THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST MARTIN, LEICESTER income £4.4m

Side by side with its peers

Charity	Income	Top pay band	Staff >£60k	Reserves vs policy	Fundraising cost	Going concern
CHURCHES CONSERVATION TRUST	£12.0m	£80,000 - £90,000	5	unclear	—	no doubt
THE NORWICH HISTORIC CHURCHES TRUST LIMITED FY2025	£321k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
THE NATIONAL CHURCHES TRUST FY2025	£5.2m	£70,001 - £80,000	3	unclear	—	no doubt
THE HISTORIC CHAPELS TRUST FY2025	£2.2m	—	0	above	—	no doubt
THE SUFFOLK HISTORIC CHURCHES TRUST FY2023	£276k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
CORNWALL HISTORIC CHURCHES TRUST FY2025	£333k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt

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