The Rochester Diocesan Society and Board of Finance

Analysis

The Rochester Diocesan Society and Board of Finance is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Rochester. It was registered in September 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 00140656). It says it makes grants to individuals, makes grants to organisations and provides other finance.

In the financial year ending December 2025, The Rochester Diocesan Society and Board of Finance reported income of £13.1m and spending of £16.1m, spending 122% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £11.9m to £13.1m (+11%), an average of +2.6% a year. Over the whole period it spent 118% of the income it received.

Among 20,496 England and Wales charities whose main cause is religion and that reported income, The Rochester Diocesan Society and Board of Finance 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 Woodard Schools (Nottinghamshire) Limited (£13.1m), Imagine the Day Limited (£13.2m) and Notre Dame School Cobham (£12.9m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 88%, charitable activities 7.3% and investments 5.2%. Charitable activities took 96% of spending and raising funds 4.3%. Grants to other organisations totalled £502k. Reserves of £9.9m would cover about 7 months of spending at that rate. It employed 61 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.