The Charity Commission exists with the aim of registering and regulating charities in England and Wales, to ensure that the public can support charities with confidence.
Anglican churches have historically enjoyed excepted status as charities. The 2006 Charities Act removed “excepted status” from charities with incomes over £100,000.
So, if your parish income went above £100,000 in the last financial year, you will need to register with the Charity Commission.
The Archbishops’ Council have worked with the Charity Commission to make the process as simple as possible and full guidance can be found on here.
Each year registered charities are required to complete the Charity Commission annual return and upload a signed copy of their finalised annual report and accounts to the website. The deadline for performing these tasks is 31 October following the year that the report and accounts relate to.
All members of the PCC are trustees, further information on the requirements and duties of a trustee can be found on here.
As part of its remit to regulate the charity sector, the Charity Commission has issued a number of detailed guidance papers and “how to” guides. The national church has issued guidance on how serious incidents are reported to the Charity Commission.
