The Fund gives grants to CofE churches and those in partnership with them who seek to tackle social issues in the Diocese of Guildford.
The Bishop of Guildford's Communities Fund is a working name of the Bishop of Guildford's Foundation is an independent charity, set up in 1993 with the aim of supporting local churches and organisations with church links which respond to local needs by developing community projects. It expresses a sense of communal solidarity with people in need and provides a mechanism for wealthier parishes and
church members to channel support the vulnerable and isolated. Grants are made to a wide variety of causes, including charities working with people who have disabilities, family support projects, youth and children's workers, organisations developing employment for vulnerable people, community organisations, projects for the homeless and much else.
31/03/2026
The work of the Bishop of Guildford’s Communities Fund goes on. There are still families grappling with financial insecurity and food poverty, vulnerable children still need clubs, the isolated community centres and the homeless night shelters. This year's Lent Appeal continues and we pray that it will honour Bishop Andrew's memory and his mission to encourage parishes to live out the Gospel in their communities. You can donate here: https://localgiving.org/fundraising/LentAppeal2026 and you can view our Lent Appeal video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwSv1R8c2NA&t=9s
The Bishop of Guildford’s Communities Fund (BGCF) exists to reach out to disadvantaged and vulnerable people across the Diocese of Guildford in the name of C...
12/03/2026
The Bishop of Dorking announces details of Bishop Andrew's funeral:
The Rt Revd Paul Davies, the Bishop of Dorking, announces details on the funeral of the late Rt Revd Andrew Watson on Monday 23 March.
07/03/2026
THE BISHOP OF GUILDFORD - ANDREW WATSON 1961-2026.
It was with great sadness that I learned of the passing of Bishop of Guildford -The Right Reverend Andrew Watson.
Bishop Andrew who was just 64 at his passing, has held the role for the past eleven years and was a prominent and well-loved figure in the community. The Archbishop of Canterbury – Sarah Mullally who visited Andrew at home before he died, said that he was a “Man of deep Christian Faith who had made an enormous contribution to the life of the Church of England”.
Andrew was suffering from pancreatic cancer – both aggressive and difficult to manage and he bravely announced his diagnosis publicly last month informing, his diocese that he may only have a month left to live, sadly an accurate estimate, and in his statement said, “I don’t fear the prospect of Dying and find, to my relief, that my faith in the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting has only grown stronger over the past few weeks. I’ve sometimes had private worries that, when faced with the starkness of a terminal diagnosis, my faith in the risen Christ might falter. Well, it hasn’t. Or better still, God hasn’t faltered, quite the reverse”.
During the past year in my role of High Sheriff, I have seen him at work on many occasions but I particularly recall the VE80 Service of Thanksgiving and his offering in May of last year where the picture was taken (Andrew is far right). I also fondly remember the carol service we both attended in HMP High Down last December when he addressed the congregation of over 100 inmates.
It has been heartwarming to read the many tributes to him, described as a generous and gentle man, inspiring, a very active and committed Christian, and of course courageous. His bravery had already been established when last year he faced (as he said) his ‘rather feeble fear of heights’ by abseiling from the roof of Guildford Cathedral as part of a programme of events which raised £28,000 for the ‘Bishop of Guildford’s Communities Fund’. This enabled ten grants to support community projects that are providing meals for vulnerable families, hosting cafes for those who are isolated, as well as funding youth and community work across Surrey and Hampshire. This is an annual campaign that is launched on the first day of Lent each year.
Suzanne and I would like to offer our heartfelt condolences to Andrew’s Family and our sincere thanks to him for his devoted service to the diocese. May the words he offered whilst facing the end of this life offer comfort to others in a similar situation and may he rest in peace.
The trustees of The Bishop of Guildford’s Communities Fund have, along with so many others, been deeply saddened at the death of our chairman The Rt Revd Andrew Watson.
Bishop Andrew led the BGCF for 11 years; he took a close interest in the projects supported by the charity and personally raised funds by abseiling from the tower of Guildford Cathedral. With the other trustees, he considered every single application prayerfully and was delighted when the BGCF was presented with creative ways to actively alleviate pockets of deprivation in parishes. Funds raised for the charity have gone towards parish projects providing meals for families grappling with financial insecurity and food poverty, night shelters for the homeless, community centres for the isolated, clubs for vulnerable children and support for young mothers, amongst others.
This year's Lent Appeal continues and we pray that it will honour Bishop Andrew's memory and his mission to encourage parishes to live out the Gospel in their communities.
We send our condolences to Bishop Andrew’s family and the diocese as they come to terms with their loss.
05/03/2026
It is with great sadness that we pass on news of the death of our chairman, the Rt Revd Andrew Watson, Bishop of Guildford, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer less than a month ago. A lovely man, and excellent bishop, a good friend to so many. Our love and prayers go out to his wife, Beverly, their children, grandchildren and members of their wider family.
22/02/2026
Following the recent sad news of Bishop Andrew’s terminal cancer diagnosis, the Bishop’s Leadership Team has organised a Day of Prayer for Bishop Andrew at Guildford Cathedral tomorrow from 12 noon to 10:00pm.
All are welcome and encouraged to join us at any stage during the day, for as long as you are able to stay. If you cannot attend in person then please join in the prayer from home or work. In the Cathedral, there will be opportunity for silent prayer, to pray with others, or to light a candle.
You are warmly invited to Choral Evensong at 5:30pm, when the Diocesan family will join together and pray in particular for Bishop Andrew and his family. After Evensong, there will be an opportunity, for those who wish, to light a candle and to share in the ministry of laying on of hands and anointing.
Teams from each deanery will be present throughout the day to welcome people and to pray with them, and the day will finish with Night Prayer, which will begin at 9:45pm and end at 10:00pm.
Bishop Andrew has done it! And he's just made his target having raised £1,000 to be shared between BGCF and the Cathedral. Well done Bishop Andrew!
04/06/2025
Tomorrow, Thursday 5 June Bishop Andrew is being interviewed at by BBC Radio Surrey's Breakfast Show at 7.50am about his upcoming abseil from the top of Guildford Cathedral tower. He abseiling, to raise money both for BGCF and for the Cathedral. If you haven't yet sponsored Bishop Andrew you can do do by clicking on this link:
I don’t have the greatest head for heights, but am looking forward to the Daring Descent as a way of highlighting two great causes which I support every month: the Bishop of Guildford’s Communities Fu
23/05/2025
🎉 Meet the Abseilers – Diocese of Guildford Team 🧗♀️
On Saturday 14 June, 30 brave individuals will take the weight off their feet and abseil 160 feet down the Cathedral Tower for a great cause!
First up, meet three members of the Diocese of Guildford team – including Bishop Andrew himself – who are joining to raise funds for the Cathedral's vital work:
💬 “This is a personal challenge for me – I don’t have the greatest head for heights!” – Geraldine, Honorary Canon & Diocesan Staff Member
💬 “I’m abseiling in memory of my family, who helped build the Cathedral in the 1950s ‘Buy a Brick’ campaign.” – Liz, Diocesan Staff Member
💬 “I’m not fond of heights either – but I’m doing this to support two causes close to my heart: our Cathedral and the The Bishop of Guildford's Communities Fund.” – Bishop Andrew
Diocese of Guildford | Association of English Cathedrals | The Church of England
07/05/2025
I don’t have the greatest head for heights, but am looking forward to the Daring Descent as a way of highlighting two great causes which I support every month: the Bishop of Guildford’s Communities Fu
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Contact The Place Of Worship
Send a message to The Bishop of Guildford's Communities Fund:
The Bishop of Guildford’s Communities Fund (BGCF) helps parishes in the Diocese to fulfil Goal 6 of the diocesan vision, Transforming Church, Transforming Lives:
Together to increase the range, professionalism and spiritual fruitfulness of our partnerships with the local community, to help create a stronger, fairer and more sustainable society.
The Bishop of Guildford, Andrew Watson, says: “Our diocese is generally regarded as an affluent part of the country. Across our communities, however, there are areas of real deprivation, made all the more challenging by the relative wealth of those who live nearby. Many of our churches are already engaged in community-based projects reaching into those areas and inspired by Jesus’ own commitment to the least, the last and the lost. The Communities Fund is designed to give them a helping hand, both with start-up grants and ongoing support.”
Grants will be made to projects and partnerships initiated by Church of England churches, and those in active partnership with them, which seek to tackle social issues that adversely affect our local communities. This includes issues such as mental health, older people’s support, family support, debt counselling, youth work, homelessness and poverty. The fund will also support projects which help to regenerate local communities and build community capacity to meet local needs.
BGCF is funded by collections taken at confirmation, institution and licensing services, by half of all donations to the annual Bishop’s Lent Challenge and by personal donations.
The Bishop of Guildford’s Communities Fund website, www.bgcf.org.uk, provides information on how to donate to the fund and how to apply for a grant.
The Bishop of Guildford’s Communities Fund is the new working name for The Bishop of Guildford’s Foundation, set up in 1993, which is a registered charity no 1017385.
