THE TEMPLE MUSIC TRUST

Registered charity 277514 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

The object of the charity is the advancement of musical education for the benefit of the public, and in particular: (1) the promotion of the musical training and general education of the choristers of the Temple Church by the provision and award of scholarships; and (2) the promotion of the appreciation of choral music by public performance in the Temple Church

Objects

THE ADVANCEMENT OF MUSICAL EDUCATION IN ANY MANNER FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC OR ANY SECTION OF THE PUBLIC IN ALL RESPECTS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE TRUSTEES. (FOR FURTHER DETAILS SEE CLAUSE 3 OF DEED)

Area of benefit: NOT DEFINED

The charity’s charitable objects and area of benefit, quoted from its governing document as held on the Charity Commission register.

Causes: Education/training · Religious Activities · Arts/culture/heritage/science · Get email alerts

Registered contact address: City of London, London, England (from the postcode on the register)

Latest income

£63k

Latest spending

£15k

Registered

1979

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity's net assets total £2,138,463, with unrestricted funds of £839,265. The trustees report that the charity will be wound up following a merger with The Temple Church Trust, expected to be completed in November 2026. The financial statements were prepared on a going concern basis as the charity will continue to operate normally until the formal date of transfer.

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

What the accounts disclose

Reserves policy: at least the estimated expenditure for 12 months (reserves figure: £2.1m)

“In previous years the Trustees have aimed to maintain sufficient free reserves to cover at least the estimated expenditure for 12 months.” — page 3

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 3 of 6 completeness components.

Policies the charity declares

In its annual return the charity told the Commission that it has the policies listed below. This is self-declared: it is not verified by the Commission or by this site, and it is not evidence of how a policy works in practice.

Conflicting interests
Financial reserves policy and procedures
Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
Investing charity funds policy and procedures
Investment
Risk management
Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures

From the charity’s annual return (Part A, self-declared)

Answers and figures the charity gave in Part A of its annual return to the Charity Commission. They are self-declared: not verified by the Commission or by this site. Only positive answers and figures are listed; items not listed are simply not shown.

Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2025

Grant-making is its main activity

Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2024

Grant-making is its main activity

Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2023

Grant-making is its main activity

Source: this charity’s annual returns on the Charity Commission register.

Trustees · trustee networks

MARGARET BICKFORD-SMITH QC
Mary Patricia McGowan
ROBERT-JAN TEMMINK QC
STEPHANIE BARWISE QC
TOBY PAUL WATKIN

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

Operates in: Throughout London

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/12/2025	£63k	£15k
31/12/2024	£51k	£27k
31/12/2023	£43k	£32k
31/12/2022	£16k	£128k
31/12/2021	£41k	£178k

Common questions

Is THE TEMPLE MUSIC TRUST financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity's net assets total £2,138,463, with unrestricted funds of £839,265. The trustees report that the charity will be wound up following a merger with The Temple Church Trust, expected to be completed in November 2026. The financial statements were prepared on a going concern basis as the charity will continue to operate normally until the formal date of transfer. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.

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
MARIA BJORNSON MEMORIAL FUND	2	£15k
GENESIS AMERICA (UK) LIMITED	1	£256k
THE ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER FOUNDATION	1	£50k
THE SCOPS ARTS TRUST	1	£40k
Q CHARITABLE TRUST	1	£30k
THE ALAN EDWARD HIGGS CHARITY	1	£27k
Genesis Foundation	1	£25k
FISHMONGERS' COMPANY'S CHARITABLE TRUST	1	£20k

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with THE TEMPLE MUSIC FOUNDATION.

THE TEMPLE MUSIC FOUNDATION income £513k
THE RIPON CATHEDRAL MUSIC TRUST income £37k
CATHEDRAL MUSIC TRUST income £1.2m
YORK MUSICAL SOCIETY income £69k
THE WILLIAMS CHURCH MUSIC TRUST income £46k
TEDDINGTON CHORAL SOCIETY income £45k

Side by side with its peers

Charity	Income	Top pay band	Staff >£60k	Reserves vs policy	Fundraising cost	Going concern
THE TEMPLE MUSIC TRUST	£63k	—	—	above	—	no doubt
THE TEMPLE MUSIC FOUNDATION FY2024	£513k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
THE RIPON CATHEDRAL MUSIC TRUST FY2025	£37k	—	—	unclear	—	no doubt
CATHEDRAL MUSIC TRUST FY2025	£1.2m	—	1	below	—	no doubt
YORK MUSICAL SOCIETY FY2025	£69k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
THE WILLIAMS CHURCH MUSIC TRUST FY2025	£46k	—	0	above	—	no doubt

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