The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Finance Limited
Analysis
The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Finance Limited is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Guide. It was registered in May 1966, 60 years ago. Its declared purposes cover religious activities, which this site groups under religion. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 00225457). It says it makes grants to individuals, makes grants to organisations and provides other finance.
In the financial year ending December 2025, The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Finance Limited reported income of £18.4m and spending of £15.2m, spending 83% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £13.5m to £18.4m (+36%), an average of +8.0% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2022, when income rose by 26%. Over the whole period it spent 90% of the income it received.
Among 20,496 England and Wales charities whose main cause is religion and that reported income, The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Finance Limited sits at the 100th 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 Woldingham School (£18.1m), St Mary's School (Calne) (£18.5m) and World Mission Agency - Winners Chapel International (£18.1m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 75%, investments 5.7%, charitable activities 2.9% and trading 1.7%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £9,000. Charitable activities took 97% of spending and raising funds 2.0%. Grants to other organisations totalled £2.1m. Reserves of £8.8m would cover about 7 months of spending at that rate. It employed 77 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 75%
- Legacies 0.0%
- Charitable activities 2.9%
- Trading 1.7%
- Investments 5.7%
- Other 15%
In the charity's own words
To promote, facilitate and assist the work and purposes of the Church of England by the advancement of the Christian faith in the Diocese of Blackburn and elsewhere to create healthy churches transforming communities as part of our Vision 2026 by raising and applying funds for the Church's work.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Woldingham School | Caterham | £18.1m |
| St Mary's School (Calne) | Calne | £18.5m |
| World Mission Agency - Winners Chapel International | Kent | £18.1m |
| The Master and Scholars of Balliol College in the University of Oxford | Oxford | £18.8m |