# Friends of Wiston Church

- Type: Trust / foundation
- Charity number: 1158565 (https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/1158565)
- Latest income: £3,253; spending £6,102
- What it funds: Education / training, Religious activities, Arts / culture / heritage / science, Environment / conservation / heritage
- Who it helps: The general public
- How it gives: Makes grants to organisations, Provides human resources, Provides buildings / facilities / open space, Provides services, Provides advocacy / advice / information
- Area of operation: Suffolk
- Other names: Friends of St Mary's (working)
- Trustees: 3
- Last verified: 2026-11-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Canonical URL: https://opengrant.co.uk/funders/friends-of-wiston-church

The Friends of Wiston Church is a registered charity formed to raise funds from the public for preservation of the church and churchyard of St Mary the Virgin in Wiston, Suffolk. Funds are raised through events such as concerts, tennis tournaments and quiz nights. Current projects include roof repairs and restoring the porch.

## Open and forthcoming schemes (0)

None in OpenGrant's sources right now.

## Finances by year (Charity Commission)

| Year ending | Income | Spending | Grants to organisations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan 2026 | £3,253 | £6,102 | not filed |
| 1 Jan 2025 | £3,957 | £4,643 | not filed |
| 1 Jan 2024 | £3,011 | £1,929 | not filed |
| 1 Jan 2023 | £1,959 | £1,992 | not filed |
| 1 Jan 2022 | £4,198 | £957 | not filed |

## Charitable objects

> The objects of the CIO are, for the public benefit: (1) To secure and promote the preservation of the church of st. Mary the virgin in Wiston, Suffolk, its churchyard and its burial ground (together called "the church"), in particular but not exclusively by: (a) Advancing the public's knowledge and education in the church and its preservation; (b) Facilitating and encouraging (where it is practicable to do so) reasonable public access to and use and enjoyment of the church; and (c) Supporting the continued use of the church as a place of Christian worship, ritual and ceremony, as well as of spiritual and moral education; and (2) To support and use the church for such other exclusively charitable purposes as the charity trustees shall from time to time in their absolute discretion determine. For the purposes of sub-clause (1) Of this clause, "preservation" shall include but is not limited to the protection, maintenance, repair, restoration, improvement, beautification, extension and reconstruction of the fabric of the church, its monuments, fixtures and fittings, books papers and other records, furniture, stained glass, ornaments and other chattels of or in the church.

## What it funds

Friends of Wiston Church is registered under the Charity Commission purposes education / training, religious activities, arts / culture / heritage / science and environment / conservation / heritage for the general public and other defined groups; the register records that it makes grants to organisations, provides human resources, provides buildings / facilities / open space, provides services and provides advocacy / advice / information. In its latest reported year Friends of Wiston Church reported income of £3,253 and spending of £6,102. Over its last 5 reported years, to 1 Jan 2026, it spent £15.6k in total.

The Charity Commission register lists its area of operation as Suffolk.

## How to apply

OpenGrant has not found an open scheme from Friends of Wiston Church in its sources (last checked 6 Nov 2026). It may fund by invitation only, or through programmes that OpenGrant's sources do not cover. OpenGrant does not take applications; always check the funder's own guidance.

## Questions

### Is Friends of Wiston Church open for applications now?

Not in OpenGrant's sources as of 6 Nov 2026: no open or forthcoming scheme from Friends of Wiston Church is listed. Check the funder's website for programmes that are not yet open or that it does not advertise.

### Where does Friends of Wiston Church fund?

The Charity Commission register lists its area of operation as Suffolk.

### Does Friends of Wiston Church give grants to individuals?

The Charity Commission register records that Friends of Wiston Church makes grants to organisations, not that it makes grants to individuals.

### How much does Friends of Wiston Church give each year?

The register does not break out Friends of Wiston Church's grants for its latest year (only charities with income over £500,000 file that detail). Its total spending in the year to 1 Jan 2026 was £6,102. Over its last 5 reported years its spending averaged £3,125 a year.

### How large is Friends of Wiston Church?

In its latest reported year Friends of Wiston Church reported income of £3,253 and spending of £6,102.


## Similar funders

- [Corra Foundation](https://opengrant.co.uk/funders/corra-foundation) – 4 open schemes
- [Rothschild Foundation](https://opengrant.co.uk/funders/rothschild-foundation) – 3 open schemes
- [Wolfson Foundation](https://opengrant.co.uk/funders/wolfson-foundation) – 1 open scheme
- [Pears Foundation](https://opengrant.co.uk/funders/pears-foundation)
- [The Grocers' Charity](https://opengrant.co.uk/funders/grocers-charity)
- [Shetland Charitable Trust](https://opengrant.co.uk/funders/shetland-charitable-trust) – 1 open scheme

## Guides

- [Arts and heritage grants in Scotland: what is open now and who funds it](https://opengrant.co.uk/blog/arts-and-heritage-grants-in-scotland)
- [Community grants in Wales: who funds what and what is open now](https://opengrant.co.uk/blog/community-grants-in-wales)
- [Environmental grants for UK charities in 2026: who funds nature, climate and green community work](https://opengrant.co.uk/blog/environmental-grants-for-uk-charities)