Church Revitalisation Trust

The Church Revitalisation Trust (charity number 1174882) is a UK-based nonprofit organisation dedicated to revitalising and planting Anglican churches across England and Wales. Established in 2017 and rooted in over 30 years of experience from Holy Trinity Brompton (HTB), the Trust aims to reverse the decline of the Church of England by fostering vibrant, Jesus-centred, Spirit-filled worshipping communities, particularly in key urban centres and underserved neighbourhoods[2][4][5].

Mission and Vision

The Trust exists to serve, resource, and revitalise the Church in its mission to reach the unchurched, make disciples, and transform society. Its vision encompasses:

• Evangelisation of the nations
• Revitalisation of the Church
• Transformation of society

The organisation pursues this vision by growing vibrant churches that act as hubs for resourcing, planting, and regeneration within their dioceses and communities[1][5].

Activities

The primary activity of the Church Revitalisation Trust is to help plant City Centre Resource churches in strategic cities across England and Wales. These churches function as centres for church planting and community regeneration. The Trust also partners with dioceses to revitalise existing churches, many of which face closure, turning them into flourishing spiritual communities with significant local impact, including in areas of deprivation and housing estates[2][3][5].

The Trust supports these efforts by recruiting and training clergy and church leaders in partnership with theological colleges. Training is also provided for worship leaders, youth pastors, children’s workers, operations directors, and social action workers. The emphasis is on equipping leaders with operational, administrative, and financial skills to help churches thrive and grow sustainably[2][4].

Support and Development

In addition to planting and revitalising churches, the Trust provides ongoing support through coaching, mentoring, online training, events, conferences, and retreats. It also awards grants to support strategic growth and social action initiatives within its network of churches[4].

A notable outreach programme of the Trust is "Love Your Neighbour," which operates through a network of around 90 church hubs across the UK. This initiative partners with local organisations to deliver crisis support, debt advice, employment assistance, and wraparound care to vulnerable and marginalised people in their communities[4].

Organisational Structure and Finances

The Church Revitalisation Trust employs approximately 44 people and is governed by a board of around 10 trustees. Several senior employees receive salaries in excess of £60,000, reflecting the organisation's scale and professional operations. Financially, the Trust reported charitable expenditure of about £9.41 million, with additional funds retained for future use to ensure sustainability. The majority of its spending is focused on planting churches and supporting their growth and regeneration activities[2].

Impact

Since its inception, the Trust has successfully established over 100 churches, creating vibrant worshipping communities throughout England and Wales. Many of these churches serve as essential local hubs for faith-based community transformation, social outreach, and spiritual growth[4][5].

The Church Revitalisation Trust continues to play a key role in the renewal of the Church of England by combining strategic church planting, leadership development, and community transformation, effectively addressing both spiritual and social needs within urban and deprived areas.

[1] https://revitalisetrust.org [2] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5103311 [3] https://revitalisetrust.org/plants-and-revitalisations [4] https://www.bamboofundraising.co.uk/blog/spotlight-on-the-church-revitalisation-trust [5] https://ccx.org.uk/together/revitalise-trust/