The National Churches Trust
Analysis
The National Churches Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in June 2007, 19 years ago. Its declared purposes cover arts/culture/heritage/science and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 06265201). It says it makes grants to organisations and provides services.
In the financial year ending December 2025, The National Churches Trust reported income of £5.2m and spending of £4.2m, spending 81% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income fell from £6.5m to £5.2m (-21%), an average of -5.6% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2023, when income rose by 78%. Over the whole period it spent 93% of the income it received.
Among 17,634 England and Wales charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, The National Churches Trust sits at the 98th percentile: it is larger than about 98% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 98th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Jroots Limited (£5.2m), Eureka the National Children's Museum (£5.2m) and The Piece Hall Trust (£5.2m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 94%, investments 4.6% and trading 1.4%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £1.7m. Charitable activities took 88% of spending and raising funds 11%. Grants to other organisations totalled £2.6m. Reserves of £3.3m would cover about 9 months of spending at that rate. It employed 22 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 61%
- Legacies 32%
- Charitable activities 0.4%
- Trading 1.4%
- Investments 4.6%
In the charity's own words
The Charity's objects are to promote the conservation, repair, maintenance, improvement, upkeep, beautification and reconstruction of churches in the United Kingdom and of monuments, fittings, fixtures, stained glass, furniture, ornaments, organs, bells in such churches; and to promote the building, enlargement and development of churches in the United Kingdom.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Jroots Limited | London | £5.2m |
| Eureka the National Children's Museum | Halifax | £5.2m |
| The Piece Hall Trust | Halifax | £5.2m |
| The South West Heritage Trust | Taunton | £5.2m |