History and Reports
In the early part of the eighteenth century some proposals were put forward "for raising an annual contribution in the County of Essex towards the relief of the poor clergy of the said county, their widows and children". Among the chief advocates was the Revd John Maryon, Rector of White Roding, who gave the project his life-long interest and generous support.
As the work progressed, legal status became desirable, and the Charity formally came into being on 29 April 1747, incorporated under Royal Charter by Letters Patent. The records of the Charity are deposited at the Essex Record Office. Following the creation of the Diocese of Chelmsford in 1914, a new scheme was sealed by the Charity Commissioners, and the Charity received the registered number 239238.
Since 1917, both Essex and the Church of England have changed significantly, so that, in 2017 the trustees began thinking about changing the name and objects of the charity. After discussion, debate and consultation, this was put into effect in 2020.
Changing our name to take account of the fact that our boundaries are wider than what is currently called Essex, incorporating five London boroughs and a small part of Cambridgeshire, co-terminus with the boundaries of the Diocese of Chelmsford.
Changing our objects to include licensed lay people as our beneficiaries, primarily those taking a sole lead role in a parish, overseen by an ordained incumbent, in one or more neighbouring parishes.
2023 AGM Documents
The LMDC Charity held its AGM on Tuesday, 11th October 2022
The Annual Report and Audited Accounts were received by the meeting.