William and Jane Morris Fund

A colour leaflet about the work of the William and Jane Morris Fund, with examples of the projects to which the fund has contributed, can be downloaded here (PDF file 390 KB).


The Morris Fund was formed in 1939 following the death of May Morris, the younger daughter of William and Jane Morris. Under the terms of her will the Society received her residuary estate ‘for the purpose of providing a fund for the protection of ancient buildings'. May Morris required that grants should be made only to works that are carried out according to the principles of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB), which was founded by her father. The Fund has been boosted lately thanks to the generosity of Mrs Lesley Philips, FSA.

Applications will be accepted according to the following criteria and terms:  

  • grants are limited to churches, chapels and other places of worship in the United Kingdom;

  • only buildings or monuments erected before 1896 (the date of William Morris's death) will be eligible;

  • assurances are required that grant-aided work will be completed within one year of receipt of the grant;

  • the completion of the work must be certified by an appropriate professional;

  • preference is given to limited programmes of work concerned with the conservation of decorative features; for example, stained glass windows, sculpture, furniture, textiles, internal monuments and tombs;

  • structural and fabric repairs are only considered under exceptional circumstances; for instance, in association with the conservation of a work of art.

Please note the following restrictions:

  • repairs to bells or organs, alteration or decoration of buildings, electrical rewiring and the repair or installation of central heating systems are excluded;

  • grants will not be given retrospectively for works already completed;

  • applications will only be considered when an appropriate professional has been engaged to direct the work.

Recent beneficiaries of the Fund include:

  • All Saints, Marden, Wiltshire: repair to table tombs

  • St Margaret’s Church, Addington: cleaning of busts and ceiling decoration

  • St Michael’s, Doddiscombsleigh: restoration of stained glass windows

  • St Lawrence Church, Upminster: cleaning and repair of monumental brasses

  • St Barnabus Church, Alphamstone, Bures: restoration of coat of arms

  • St Mary and St Peter’s, Harlaxton: repairs to epitaphs

    The Fund’s committee is composed of Officers of the Society and Fellows with expertise who are able to advise on applications.  Applications must be received by 31 August for consideration in the following November or by 31 March for consideration in the following May.

    Twelve copies must be provided of the completed application form. It is not necessary to make twelve copies of supporting documents as the initial assessment of the application is based solely on the information supplied on the form, though supporting documents will be viewed and discussed at the meeting.

    Download the Application form