Governance

While day-to-day responsibility for the charity rests with Trustees (Court of Assistants), the Governors are our ultimate governing body, as laid down in our 1678 Royal Charter from King Charles II. They meet annually at the Annual Assembly (AGM) in autumn.

Annual Assembly

The Annual Assembly is the AGM of the charity when our Governors meet to hear about our work and elect new trustees and Governors.

A eucharist precedes the meeting at which a guest speaker is also invited, with lunch afterwards.

In 2023, the 345th Annual Assembly took at Southwark Cathedral on Thursday 16 November 2023. The guest speaker, Rt Revd Humphrey Southern, spoke in his role as Principal of Ripton College, Cuddesdon.

The 346th Annual Assembly (AGM) will take place on Thursday 10 October 2024.

Annual Assembly 2022 - Bishop Chris Goldsmith

Annual Assembly 2021 - Governors Discussing

The Governor role

Governors support the charity in the following three main ways:

As ambassadors, promoting the work of the charity in their own church, professional and social networks.
As a source of accountability, committing to take an interest in the charity’s work through regular newsletters and the Trustees’ Annual Report which will be sent to them, and holding the Court of Assistants (trustees) accountable, mainly through participation in the charity’s Annual Assembly (AGM).
As advocates of the charity’s services and grants to eligible clergy and their families.

Governor role description (PDF)

Governor application form (PDF)

Court of Assistants (Trustees)

Oversight of the charity is vested in our board of trustees, known as the Court of Assistants, which meets every two months in London.

The members of the Court of Assistants are elected each November by the Governors of Clergy Support Trust at the Annual Assembly in accordance with the Royal Charter. The Court of Assistants can co-opt others to its number pending formal election at the Annual Assembly.

The three officers of the charity, known as the Treasurers, are also elected by the Governors at the Annual Assembly.

The Court of Assistants has four standing committees: Governance, Grants & Partnerships, Investments and Risk, Audit & Finance.

Become a Governor

The Governors are elected at the Annual Assembly and the current qualification for election is the making of a donation to the charity of at least £100. Anyone making the qualifying donation may request that his or her name be added to the list of those to be proposed for election as Governors at the next annual meeting.

Once elected, a Governor remains a Governor for life without the necessity for a further subscription – although further financial support is always very welcome! The members of the Court of Assistants, the trustees, are elected by the Governors.

Governor Application Form

If you have questions about becoming a Governor or would like a paper copy of this form, then please contact us.