Chichester Cathedral Millennium Endowment Trust

The Chichester Cathedral Millennium Endowment Trust, established in 1997 as a registered UK charity, serves as a permanent endowment fund—initially targeting £5 million—to ensure the long-term sustainability of Chichester Cathedral in West Sussex. Its core mission aligns with the Cathedral's role as a centre for Christian worship, learning, cultural outreach, pastoral care, heritage preservation, and community unity, supporting seven strategic priorities including education, worship excellence, music, and resource stewardship. Governed by trustees with prudent, perpetuity-focused investments, the Trust embodies values of stewardship, financial resilience, and enduring ministry, distinguishing itself as a specialist vehicle dedicated exclusively to one iconic ecclesiastical institution.

It funds thematic priorities tied solely to the Cathedral's mission, including building maintenance and restoration, capital improvements, heritage projects, music and liturgical initiatives (e.g., Chichester Cathedral Choir and festivals), educational programmes, community engagement, ecumenical events, and sustainability efforts. All grants bolster the Cathedral's operational, worship, and civic activities, with no support for external charities.

Eligibility is highly restrictive: only Chichester Cathedral and its immediate precincts qualify, with a Christian-only focus and no acceptance of unsolicited applications from other entities, regardless of size or income. Funding decisions occur internally at quarterly trustee meetings, responding to the Cathedral Chapter's strategic plans without public deadlines.

Typical grants range from £10,000 for minor initiatives to £100,000+ for major projects, with annual totals of £50,000–£300,000. Exclusively endowment-driven and locale-bound, the Trust rejects all non-Cathedral-aligned proposals, setting it apart as a hyper-focused funder for cathedral perpetuity in the UK charitable landscape.