The Church Army

Analysis

The Church Army is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Sheffield. It was registered in April 1963, 63 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, the prevention or relief of poverty, accommodation/housing and religious activities, which this site groups under poverty relief. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 00037169). It says it provides human resources and provides services.

In the financial year ending March 2025, The Church Army reported income of £7.1m and spending of £11.1m, spending 155% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £6.3m to £7.1m (+13%), an average of +3.0% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2024, when income rose by 19%. Over the whole period it spent 146% of the income it received.

Among 15,276 England and Wales charities whose main cause is poverty relief and that reported income, The Church Army 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 99th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Gemach Ltd (£7.1m), Right to Succeed CIO (£7.2m) and Your Place (London) Limited (£7.1m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 50%, donations and legacies 36%, trading 6.6% and investments 5.6%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £892k. Charitable activities took 81% of spending and raising funds 18%. Reserves of £4.3m would cover about 5 months of spending at that rate. It employed 181 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.