Essential Christian

Analysis

Essential Christian is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in East Sussex. It was registered in November 2008, 18 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and religious activities, which this site groups under religion. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 06667924). It says it makes grants to organisations, provides human resources and provides services.

In the financial year ending September 2025, Essential Christian reported income of £5.2m and spending of £5.4m, spending 104% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from September 2021 to September 2025, income grew from £3.5m to £5.2m (+48%), an average of +10% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to September 2022, when income rose by 60%. Over the whole period it spent 102% of the income it received.

Among 20,496 England and Wales charities whose main cause is religion and that reported income, Essential Christian sits at the 99th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. 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 Swansea and Brecon Diocesan Board of Finance (£5.1m), 24-7 Prayer (£5.3m) and The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of All Souls, Langham Place, London (£5.1m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 80% and donations and legacies 16%. Charitable activities took 99% of spending and raising funds 0.7%. Grants to other organisations totalled £76k. It employed 32 people.

Data notes from the register: Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.