Define: Charitable Uses Act (1601)

The Charitable Uses Act of 1601, also known as the Statute of Charitable Uses, was an English statute enacted during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. The Act was one of the first legislative efforts to formally recognise and regulate charitable activities. It established guidelines for the creation and management of charitable trusts and defined charitable purposes, which included relief of poverty, advancement of education, provision of health care, and other purposes deemed beneficial to society. The Act aimed to encourage philanthropy and provide legal protection for charitable donations by ensuring that funds allocated for charitable purposes were used effectively and responsibly. The Charitable Uses Act of 1601 laid the groundwork for modern charity law and continues to influence charitable activities and regulations in many jurisdictions.

The preamble to this Act, which sets out a long and varied list of endeavours that are properly regarded as charitable, is still seen by the courts as providing a starting point for determining whether an organisation is a valid charity or not.

See: Scottish burial reform and cremation society v Glasgow corporation (1968), CharitableTrust

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This glossary post was last updated: 29th March 2024.