Trustee - St Mary's Hospital Almshouses

St Mary’s Hospital Almshouses is seeking to appoint several new Trustees. The Charity has a strong Christian ethos and is seeking new Trustees who will help the Charity build on its rich legacy.

Who we are

St Mary’s Hospital is a Christian foundation dating back to the 13th Century. The Charity was founded as a Medieval Hospital providing accommodation and support in the centre of Chichester.

Today St Mary’s provides 40 Almshouse lettings, has an extensive commercial portfolio and an annual turnover of £1m.

The Charity retains a strong Christian ethos and strives to address contemporary challenges whilst maintaining the traditions of its past.

The role

​St Mary’s Hospital is run by a board of Trustees who are appointed either independently or directly by the Chichester Cathedral Chapter. We now wish to appoint two, or potentially three, new independent trustees to join the Board during the Autumn of 2024.

St Mary’s has a long history as an almshouse charity. In recent years the charity has been administered by Chichester Cathedral though a service level agreement. Whilst maintaining a strong relationship with the Cathedral, the Charity is now operating more independently. This has strengthened the need for effective governance with particular emphasis on estate management, finance and HR.

St Mary’s has a strong balance sheet and enjoys a healthy income from its commercial property portfolio. Trustees have expressed aspirations to ensure that the legacy of this is used to tackle contemporary issues, especially in relation to housing need and homelessness, whilst maintaining its fundamental Christian ethos.

The Charity employs three staff (2 WTE) including a Custos, who conducts daily services in the Medieval Chapel and provides pastoral support to residents.

For an informal discussion about the roles please contact the Clerk