MODERN CHURCH

Registered charity 281573 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as M C U, THE MODERN CHURCHPEOPLE'S UNION

Modern Church promotes liberal Christian theology, offering debate on religious issues, embracing the spirit of freedom & informed enquiry. It seeks to involve the Christian faith in an ongoing search for truth by interpreting traditional doctrine in the light of present day understanding. It encourages debate through its journal, newsletter and books, conferences, website and local groups.

Objects

THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC, IN PARTICULAR THROUGH (BUT NOT LIMITED TO):(A) THE PROMOTION OF OPEN AND CRITICAL STUDY OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH AND ITS RELEVANCE IN THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD; AND(B) OFFERING RESOURCES FOR INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS IN PARISHES, INSTITUTIONS AND PUBLIC LIFE TO SUPPORT AN OPEN-MINDED AND THOUGHTFUL APPROACH TO MATTERS OF FAITH AND RELIGION

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: Religious Activities · website · Get email alerts

Registered contact address: Stroud, South West, England (from the postcode on the register)

Latest income

£30k

Latest spending

£59k

Registered

1981

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity ran a deficit of £28,819 for the year, primarily due to legacy project expenditures. Despite this, the trustees report a sound financial position with total funds of £421,674, noting that reserves remain sufficient to cover ongoing obligations.

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

What the accounts disclose

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
Paying staff

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

Trustees · trustee networks

PROFESSOR ELAINE LOUISE GRAHAMchair · trustee of 4 other charities
ANTHONY GRAHAM BENINGTON WOOLLARD
Hugh Bryant
Professor Adrian Thatcher
Rev Anne-Marie Caroline Kramer
Rev Diane Kutar
Rev Donald Roger Witts
Rev Edward Owen
Rev Terence Drummond

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

Operates in: Northern Ireland · Scotland · Throughout England And Wales

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/12/2025	£30k	£59k
31/12/2024	£40k	£63k
31/12/2023	£40k	£74k
31/12/2022	£36k	£78k
31/12/2021	£27k	£56k

Common questions

Is MODERN CHURCH financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity ran a deficit of £28,819 for the year, primarily due to legacy project expenditures. Despite this, the trustees report a sound financial position with total funds of £421,674, noting that reserves remain sufficient to cover ongoing obligations. 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
THE LOWER GREEN FOUNDATION	1	£10k
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST PAUL, SOUTH HARROW	1	£500

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with THE NEW CHURCH.

THE NEW CHURCH income £111k
REFORMATION TODAY income £51k
THE LIBERAL CATHOLIC CHURCH GRAIL COMMUNITY income £156k
MID CORNWALL CHRISTIAN CHURCH income £47k
CHURCH ON THE WAY income £126k
TEMPLE METHODIST CHURCH income £120k

Side by side with its peers

Charity	Income	Top pay band	Reserves vs policy	Fundraising cost	Going concern
MODERN CHURCH	£30k	—	unclear	—	no doubt
THE NEW CHURCH FY2025	£111k	—	below	—	no doubt
REFORMATION TODAY FY2025	£51k	—	above	—	no doubt
THE LIBERAL CATHOLIC CHURCH GRAIL COMMUNITY FY2026	£156k	—	below	—	no doubt
MID CORNWALL CHRISTIAN CHURCH FY2025	£47k	£30,000	unclear	—	no doubt
CHURCH ON THE WAY FY2025	£126k	—	unclear	—	no doubt

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