Steps leading up through a rocky landscape

One FIEC church’s steps to CIO charity status

Edward Connor Solicitors’ Christian lawyers supported the church leaders of Alverstoke Evangelical Church with expert Christian legal advice in their journey to becoming a CIO charity. Learn why this FIEC church and its church trustees chose ECS for legal guidance.

Man smiling talking with 2 other men

“Help! When are we a church?”

Establishing your church: legal steps, charity status, and governance explained “Help! When are we a church?” A great question! Many Christians believe in the “ecclesia” meaning of a church – a gathering of God’s people rather than the bricks and mortar of a church building. You might have started meeting together unofficially in someone’s house, … Read more …

Cromer Pier, Norfolk, at sunset

A beacon of hope: the journey of Grace Church North Norfolk

In the holiday hub of north Norfolk, a church teetering on the edge of closure now stands as a beacon of hope for the gospel in this tourist hotspot. This is the inspiring story of Grace Church North Norfolk. The journey from Cromer Historically worshipping as Cromer Baptist Church, nestled in the town famous for … Read more …

The UK Houses of Parliament

How Christian charities and churches can engage in politics

Political engagement by evangelical Christians A recent survey by the Evangelical Alliance found that: 93% of UK evangelical Christians were certain or likely to vote in the 2024 General Election. 10% are members of a political party and/or campaign for one. 38% engage in politics beyond voting in elections. 70% believe that the church shouldn’t … Read more …

Donate

New guidance for charities on dealing with donations

The Charity Commission have published new guidance for charities on accepting, refusing or returning donations. You can find the Commission’s guidance page here. The guidance’s aim is to empower charity trustees to make the right decisions when deciding whether to accept, refuse or return a donation. It confirms that the Commission’s position is that a … Read more …

Charities Act 2022: What are the March 2024 changes?

The Charities Act 2022 received Royal Assent in early 2022, and has been implemented in phases since then. Two years later, and we are at the final phase, with a last tranche of provisions of the Act coming into force on 7 March (except that concerning ex gratia payments which has been pushed back to … Read more …

Setting up a non-PCC trust

The Parochial Church Councils (PCCs) of evangelical churches have many questions to ponder at the moment as they face potential changes in the established doctrines and practices of the Church of England. Aside from the deep theological and spiritual questions, many also have practical questions about the use and preservation of their assets for gospel … Read more …

English church

Principles for preserving assets for gospel ministry

The Parochial Church Councils (PCCs) of evangelical churches have many questions to ponder at the moment as they face potential changes in the established doctrines and practices of the Church of England. Aside from the deep theological and spiritual questions, many also have practical questions about the use and preservation of their assets for gospel … Read more …

Charity names

We hope you have found our article on the new Charities Act useful. The first wave of changes being introduced by the new legislation came into force at the end of October 2022. After more recent changes came into force, we thought it would be helpful to flag up the change in relation to charity … Read more …

What are a charity’s reporting obligations to the Charity Commission?

A charity’s reporting and accounting obligations to the Charity Commission will depend on a number of factors including whether the charity is exempt or excepted from registration, whether the charity is a company, the charity’s gross annual income, and the value of the charity’s assets.  (Note that this Article only deals with a charity’s obligations … Read more …