Richard Porter's Charity dates from 1513 when Richard Porter of Chipping Campden, who held a long lease of Mickleton Manor, donated land and property for the benefit of the church and of persons under the age of 25, resident in the ancient ecclesiastical parish of Mickleton.
Richard Porter's School Foundation, was established in 1905 by an order under the Board of Education Act 1899. The charities are known locally, collectively, as the Richard Porter Trusts.
In the stained glass window over the altar in Saint Lawrence's church one of the lower panels is a memorial to Richard Porter, inscribed in Latin. The translation reads, "the local people have dedicated this part of the building to a man of distinction, Richard Porter, who made an exceptional contribution with outstanding generosity to this church and adjacent village, honouring him in grateful memory." The charity owns Church Gardens (leased to the Poor's Land Charity, which administers the village allotments) and Church Piece, which is leased to a local farmer. By the terms of the scheme that governs the charity, the rental income is apportioned between the Church of St Lawrence (75%) towards the upkeep of the church fabric and the Richard Porter's School Foundation (25%).
In 1905 the School Foundation was established as a separate charity. Income from the Richard Porter's Charity and from its former ownership of Mickleton Primary School has to be applied solely to educational purposes, as widely defined in "the scheme".
The school, a grade 2 listed building, was established by Richard Porter's Charity in 1857, and supplemented by the schoolmaster's house and the school hall, which was used from about 1910, as a carpentry workshop for the use of pupils at the age of 14 years of age and from the 1940s as the school dining hall. The house and hall, together with the school were leased to Gloucestershire County Council for over 100 years.
Rental income ceased in September 2006 with the opening of the new school on Broad Marston Lane. As required by the Charity Commission, the trustees took professional advice and sold the site, after obtaining planning permission. Under Charity Commission rulings, the trustees cannot disburse capital, which generates about £50k per year, which can be applied by the trustees for the benefit of persons of either sex who have not yet attained the age of 25 years, who are resident in the ancient parish of Mickleton and who, in the opinion of the trustees, are in need of financial assistance.
in recent years, support for the education of young people has included distribution of income to:
Applications for grants are invited by notices placed in the Parish Magazine, at schools and on village noticeboards.
Applications must be made in writing to the Hon Secretary, Susan Baldwyn, Lower Clopton Farm, Upper Quinton, Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 8LQ, 01386 439820, farmshop@lowerclopton.co.uk
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As the village grows, and in order to maintain its level of support for students, the Foundation needs to increase its capital and therefore welcomes donations and legacies. If you can help, please contact the Hon Secretary.