The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge
Analysis
The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in June 1971, 55 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and religious activities, which this site groups under religion. It says it makes grants to organisations, provides services and provides advocacy/advice/information.
In the financial year ending April 2025, The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge reported income of £8.1m and spending of £7.1m, spending 88% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from April 2021 to April 2025, income grew from £5.8m to £8.1m (+39%), an average of +8.6% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to April 2022, when income rose by 45%. Over the whole period it spent 93% of the income it received.
Among 20,496 England and Wales charities whose main cause is religion and that reported income, The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge 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 The Newcastle Diocesan Board of Finance (£8.1m), Marymount International School (£8.2m) and Charity for Roman Catholic Purposes Administered in Connection with the English Province of the Community of the Religious of Jesus and Mary (£8.0m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 82%, donations and legacies 10% and investments 7.7%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £174k. Charitable activities took 96% of spending and raising funds 2.8%. Reserves of £2.2m would cover about 4 months of spending at that rate. It employed 46 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 8.0%
- Legacies 2.2%
- Charitable activities 82%
- Investments 7.7%
In the charity's own words
SPCK promotes Christian knowledge through broad-based publishing programmes producing books, electronic products and internet-based resources. Its Assemblies website provides teachers with free downloadable materials for collective worship in school. Materials are produced to reach people outside the church.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| The Newcastle Diocesan Board of Finance | North Shields | £8.1m |
| Marymount International School | Kingston Upon Thames | £8.2m |
| Charity for Roman Catholic Purposes Administered in Connection with the English Province of the Community of the Religious of Jesus and Mary | Felixstowe | £8.0m |
| The Truro Diocesan Board of Finance Limited | Cornwall | £8.3m |