In 1969 Sir James Herbert Hamilton Colyer-Fergusson created The Colyer-Fergusson Charitable Trust with an initial settlement of £50,000. The Settlement was created by Deed on 3 April 1969 with Objects set out as follows: ‘To or for such charitable purposes whatsoever at such times and in such manner as the trustees shall from time to time think proper’

The first Trustees were John Andrew Porter, Major General the Right Hon Gilbert Walter Riversdale Viscount Monckton of Brenchley OBE MC and Joseph Frederick Burrell. Latterly Sir Matthew Farrer GCVO became a Trustee. The current body of Trustees comprises Jonathan St Quintin Riversdale Monckton; Nicholas Henry Fisher; Ruth Murphy and Robert Neil North. Almost forty years have passed since the generous and philanthropic action of Sir James Colyer-Fergusson established the Trust. Over the years grants have been made to honour his passion for preserving beautiful country churches; to promote musical and academic excellence to reflect his strong commitment to the local communities of Kent.

The value of the Trust assets and capital now stands at £27.5m and the Trustees aim to continue to build their capital base whilst making grants of at least £600k each year. The trustees are pleased to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of the Trust and they will continue to review the impact that it has made with its funding to ensure that money continues to be well spent.