The English Sangha Trust

Who we are

The English Sangha Trust Ltd (EST) is the steward of two Theravada Buddhist Monasteries, one in Hertfordshire near Hemel Hempstead, and one in West Sussex, near Midhurst. It is a Charitable Company established in 1956, for the purpose of providing residential accommodation for monastics plus facilities and publications for lay people.
The Trust Board meets four times a year and wishes to appoint a Trust Secretary. This is a role which plays a key part in creating the high current governance standards, through servicing meetings and helping with the fulfilment of the decisions. In addition to Board meetings, the Finance sub-Committee meets twice a year and the Investment sub-Committee as and when required. There is a short Annual General Meeting before the 4th Board meeting of each year.
There are currently seven trustees, whose work is guided by senior monastics who attend
and hold a share each in the Company on behalf of the community. The relationship between the Trust and monastic community is described in a Memorandum of Understanding and Intention.
Most activities have their own teams, many led by resident monastics or lay volunteers. Accountancy, in particular, has its own team of paid staff and volunteers. Significant building projects are undertaken by a wholly-owned Company, Amaravati Developments Ltd.