Foundation of Saint Matthias

The Foundation of Saint Matthias advances Church of England-aligned education as mission, embodying the five marks of mission: proclaiming Christian faith, nurturing believers, responding to human need by transforming unjust structures, and safeguarding creation. Established from a historic theological college, its values root in faith-driven holistic education fostering personal vocation, institutional capacity, and societal transformation through sustainable, values-based interventions. It prioritizes grantmaking that builds church leadership, extends ministry reach, and integrates faith with community impact, believing enduring change arises from equipping believers for evangelism, service, and environmental stewardship via rigorous theological and practical training.

It supports higher and further education including theological study, religious music training, environmental theology research, and projects enhancing church ministry quality or addressing community needs like social mission work and faith-based leadership development. Beneficiaries encompass individuals over 18 pursuing scholarships for theology degrees, church music performance, global church education research, or overseas study visits essential to vocational formation, alongside organizations delivering capacity-building programs in church outreach, discipleship nurturing, transformative social action, and creation care initiatives. Funded activities feature formal study at UK institutions, research advancing Christian proclamation, music programs strengthening worship and evangelism, environmental theology addressing climate justice through faith lenses, and interventions responding to human need via church-led community services, pastoral training, and mission extension projects integrating holistic faith responses to poverty, injustice, and ecological challenges.

Exclusions encompass core or unrestricted funding, non-educational projects, and work unaligned with Church of England mission marks; no support for secular education or activities lacking explicit Christian commitment. Distinctive for its niche fusion of theological scholarship, religious arts, and missional action, it prioritizes beneficiaries demonstrating direct church vocation—scholars, clergy trainees, church musicians, and faith organizations—with strong preference for initiatives blending personal faith formation, community transformation, and environmental guardianship rooted in Anglican ethos.