Are you a necessitous member of the Protestant community?
You are required to supply a “Verification of religion” form as part of your SEC grant application.
To be eligible for an SEC grant, your child must be verified by a minister/clergyperson as a member of a recognised Protestant or Reformed denomination.
Download the form HERE, have it signed by your minister and submit it with your documents.
For a standard 6-year application process:
- a Junior Cycle form covers 1st through 3rd Year.
- a Senior Cycle form covers 4th through 6th Year.
Who needs to submit a Verification of Religion (VOR) form?
You must download, complete, and submit a signed VOR form if any of the following scenarios apply:
- First-Time Applicants: You are applying to the SEC grant scheme for the first time (regardless of what year your child is entering).
- New SEC School Entrants: Your child is moving or transferring into an SEC school into any year group (even if you applied last year for a sibling).
- Entering 1st Year: Your child is starting 1st Year in September 2026.
- Entering Senior Cycle: Your child is moving into Senior Cycle in September 2026:
- Entering 4th Year (Transition Year), OR
- Entering 5th Year (only required if they skipped 4th Year or are starting Senior Cycle directly in 5th Year).
Note: If you applied last year for an older child, you must still submit a new VOR form if a younger sibling meets any of the criteria above.
How to Complete the VOR Form:
- Download and print the Verification of Affiliation Form (PDF).
- Complete the form and state your child’s specific denomination (e.g., Church of Ireland, Presbyterian, Baptist, RCCG). Do not write “Protestant”.
- Both parents/guardians (where applicable) must sign the form.
- The form must be signed and witnessed in the physical presence of your clergyperson or minister.
- Upload the fully signed form during Step 3: Document Submission.
Special Signing Rules:
- Vacant Parishes: If your parish is currently without a minister, the form may be signed by:
- Church of Ireland: A visiting clergyperson or the local Archdeacon.
- Presbyterian Church: The appointed Interim Convenor.
- Ministers/Clergy Applying as Parents: If you are a minister applying for your own child/children, you cannot witness or sign your own family’s VOR form. It must be witnessed and signed by another ordained minister or clergyperson.
Denominations
| Church of Ireland |
| Presbyterian |
| Methodist |
| Quaker Society of Friends |
A – B
| Acts Community Church |
| All Nations Church |
| Amazing Grace Community Church |
| Apostolic Church (Peoples Church) |
| Apostolic Faith Mission Praise Tabernacle |
| Baptist |
| Barrow Valley Community Church |
| Betania Church |
| Brethren |
C
| Calvary Chapel |
| Calvary Christian Centre |
| Chinese Gospel Church of Dublin |
| Christ Apostolic Church in Ireland |
| Christ Embassy Church |
| Christ Glory Ministries |
| Christian Churches Ireland (Assemblies of God) |
| Church of Pentecost |
| Connect Church (formerly Living Word Church) |
| Cootehill Christian Fellowship |
| Cork Church |
| Cornerstone Christian Church |
D – E
| Dublin Vineyard Church |
| Dublin West Community Church |
| Dun Laoghaire Evangelical Church |
| Dundalk Community Church |
| Elevate Community Church |
| Elim Church |
| Ennis Evangelical Church |
G – H
| God Evangelical and Miracle Mission |
| Good News Christian Church |
| Gospel Faith Mission International (The Overcomers) |
| Gospel Hall |
| Grace Church Cork |
| Grace Family International Church Carlow |
| Grace Fellowship |
| Rathmines Gospel Hall |
| Hill City Church, The Compassion Centre |
| Hope and Glory Christian Ministries |
| House on the Rock Church |
I – N
| Immanuel Church Dublin |
| Kells Christian Centre |
| Kingdom Dominion Christian Church |
| Life and Peace Gospel Ministry |
| Lutheran |
| Mallow Street Christian Fellowship |
| Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church |
| Mercy Christian Fellowship Revival Centre |
| Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries |
| Mullingar Christian Fellowship |
| New Life Christian Centre |
| New Life International Ministries |
R – S
Redeemed Christian Church of God
| Radical Life Christian Church |
| Reformed Presbyterian Church in Ireland |
| Rock of Ages Cherubim and Seraphim Church |
| Sanctuary of Salvation Christian Church |
| Seventh Day Adventist |
| Shalom Christian Fellowship |
| Solid Rock Church of God |
| South City Church |
| St. Catherine’s Church (Core) |
| St. Mark’s Church |
T – Z
| The Bridge Christian Community (Arklow) |
| The Bridge Church (Celbridge) |
| The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) |
| The Salvation Army |
| Trinity Church Network |
| Unitarian Church |
| Victory Christian Fellowship |
| Winners Chapel aka Living Faith Church |
| Wisdom Christian Centre |
| Word International Ministries |
| Word of Life Church |
| Zion Family Christian Church |
My Church is not listed here?
If your church is a Protestant or Reformed church and is not listed here, please email info@secgrant.ie and request a Recognition Form. Your church’s minister will then be able to apply for recognition. Please note that applications are reviewed on a rolling basis by the Religion Sub-Committee of the SEC board. Grant applications will not be processed unless the church is recognised.
The religion is verified by the minister of the applicant’s church. The SEC is grateful to ministers for their support in completing this essential part of the grant application process.
The SEC recognises that different denominations have different understandings of what constitutes ‘membership’. Various denominations base ‘membership’ on baptism, confirmation, communicant status, church attendance or regularity of attendance, and others. The SEC has no definition of membership of its own, and requests that ministers apply whatever understandings of membership is commonly or canonically used in your church.
The SEC may contact ministers to confirm the verification of an applicant’s religion and recommends that ministers keep a record of all forms that they have signed. Signing forms is entirely at the discretion of a minister. If a minister has any questions on the SEC grants process and the verification of religion they can email info@secgrant.ie.