Grants and funding opportunities

There are potentially four different pathways for churches to explore funding opportunities: Synod, Mersey Synod (Province) Trusts, URC London or external bodies. This page gives a brief overview of each for you to start exploring ways to get your project funded

 

Synod Grants

  • Synod Mission Fund

    Synod invites churches to apply for funding for a mission project. Click on the link to find out more and to download guidance and an application form

    Click Here

  • Discipleship Development Fund (small)

    Discipleship Development Fund (DDF) is designed for lay people to develop and deepen their discipleship journey. Synod manages a small grant scheme (individual grants up to £200), click on the link to find out more. Larger grants are available from URC London (see below).

    Click Here

  • Large Project Panel

    Synod has created a Large Project Panel (LPP) which considers financial support to projects of any type with a value over £75,000 and multiple years in duration. This can be for buildings or people. Find out more here

    Click Here

  • Property

    Synod will consider making grants to churches for their buildings. Check the Property pages here to find out more

    Click Here

Province Charitable Trusts

The URC (Mersey Province) Trust Limited is a separate company to Mersey Synod and holds the property and funds of local churches. The URC (MP) Trust is trustee of the charities below and is responsible for distributing each charity’s funds in accordance with the individual Trusts’ charitable objectives.

These charities have been established through historical gifts and legacies, primarily for the purposes of supporting churches in the Mersey Synod area. Please see the individual Trust description for further details of what type of activity they support and how to apply for funding

  • Joseph and Ruth Evans Trust

    The Evans Trust is specifically for the religious and charitable work of churches in Mersey Synod and for furthering the Protestant evangelical religion

  • Jessie Anderton Trust

    The Jessie Anderton Trust is held to relieve the need or relieving sickness (in convalesence) of members and adherents of the United Reformed Church

  • Nathaniel Reyner Trust Fund

    Churches can apply for up to £2,500 for various projects including building work (car park, accessibility for example)

  • Misc Welfare Funds Charity

    This fund is directed at the Trustees discretion in relieving the need and hardship, sickness and distress amongst members (including ministers) of the United Reformed Church

  • Rankin Scholarship

    Scholarship(s) for the good playing of the organ in worship and otherwise promoting the use of music

  • Ministers' Widows Fund

    For relieving the hardship of the surviving spouses or civil partners and dependent children of ministers who served at any time as a minister in the area of Mersey Synod or who resided in the area at the time of their death

  • Eccleston (St Helens) Students for Ministry Fund

    To support Mersey Synod students who are training for the ministry within the URC

  • John Holgate of Salem Church, Orrell, Trust

    For providing books and any other training material to those taking the TLS course (or similar replacement course). Also to provide training materials to lay members undergoing ministries training as part of the URC

URC London

The URC London has a number of funding streams available. Brief descriptions are given below, as well as links direct to where you can obtain more information

  • Accredited Lay Preacher

    Grants up to £300 are available to all Lay Preachers in the URC who have been accredited by the General Assembly

    Click Here

  • Children and Youth Work

    Small grants are available to support children’s and youth activities, including running holiday clubs and help to strengthen relationships with uniformed clubs

    Click Here

  • Church Buildings Fund

    Loans towards the cost of building work and professional fees. All applications must be supported by Synod

    Click Here

  • Commitment for Life

    Grants available up to £1,000 for projects that are aimed at Global Justice, Climate Change, Gender Equality or Economic and Social Justice

    Click Here

  • Discipleship Development Fund (large)

    Large grants, up to a value of £5,000 are available that contribute to the discipleship development of lay people

    Click Here

  • Education for Ministry

    Financial support is available for individuals training to become Ministers of Word and Sacraments and Church Related Community Workers

    Click Here

  • Inter Faith

    To promote contact, understanding and respect among Christians, Jews and members of other faith communities

    Click Here

  • Continuing Studies Fund

    Financial support to enable further learning for both individual lay people and ordained people

    Click Here

  • The Legacy Fund

    The Legacy Fund is aimed at providing funding for innovative projects which may struggle to secure financial support from alternative sources

    Click Here

  • Mission Enabling Fund

    Financial support for mission projects working to become an anti racist church

    Click Here

External funders

There are a wide variety of external funders who will provide funding for church activities and buildings. These funders generally prefer to fund discreet projects rather than core contributions so ensure you familiarise yourself with the pages on how to apply for funding xxxlinkxxx. However, be prepared as applying to external funders is likely to take longer than you think and make sure that you are familiar with funders aims and objectives so that you match what you are trying to achieve with the funder’s preferences. This will increase your chances of success.

Explore information on the links below to give you a starting point to finding external funding for your project

  • Building repairs

    Funders which have specific interest in the upkeep of church buildings: National Churches Trust, Benefact Trust (Building Improvement)

  • Building development, extensions

    Funders which provide funding for redeveloping churches: Beatrice Laing

  • Eco and Renewables

    Funders which provide grants towards the cost of solar panels, alternative heating and renewable energy

  • Community outreach

    Funders who consider making grants to support impact and outreach activity into the local community

  • Youth & Children Work

    Funders who consider making grants to support working with youth and children