YORK MINSTER
THE OBJECTS OF THE CHAPTER ARE (A) TO ADVANCE THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FAITH AND PRACTICE OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND, IN PARTICULAR BY FURTHERING THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND; (B) TO CARE FOR AND CONSERVE THE FABRIC AND STRUCTURE OF THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH BUILDING; (C) TO ADVANCE ANY OTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSES WHICH ARE ANCILLARY.
Latest income
£18.3m
Latest spending
£11.6m
Registered
2023
Accounts read
FY2024
Financial health, per its FY2024 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported a net surplus of £6,643,000 for the year ended 31 December 2024, driven largely by grant income for the Centre of Excellence. Per the trustees' report, free unrestricted reserves of £4,885,000 are below the stated policy target of £9,700,000 to £11,600,000, though the trustees note this does not concern them due to available designated funds. The charity confirmed it is a going concern with sufficient resources to continue operations for at least twelve months.
What the accounts disclose
Highest-paid employee band: £90,001 - £100,000 — below the median for charities its size (£130k)
“There were no employees (2023: one) whose earnings were within the range £60,000 to £70,000 and one employee (2023: one) whose earnings were within the range £70,000 to £80,000 and one employee (2023: one) whose earnings were within the range £90,000 to £100,000.” — page 46
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Employees paid over £60,000: 1
“There were no employees (2023: one) whose earnings were within the range £60,000 to £70,000 and one employee (2023: one) whose earnings were within the range £70,000 to £80,000 and one employee (2023: one) whose earnings were within the range £90,000 to £100,000.” — page 46
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Largest income source: Charitable activities (42% of income)
“Income from visitors, including gift aid on tickets, increased by £887,000 to £6,155,000 (2023: £5,268,000).”
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Fundraising cost ratio: 69.8% of fundraised income, as disclosed
“The costs of these trading activities are included within Expenditure of Raising Funds on the SOFA and amounted to £2,913,000 (2023: £2,737,000) of the total Expenditure on Raising Funds of £4,172,000 (2023: £3,533,000) excluding any attributable support costs.”
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Reserves position: below the charity's own stated reserves policy (held: £4.9m; policy: ten to twelve months of operating expenditure at current levels)
“The level of free unrestricted reserves as at 31 December 2024, as described above, excluding designated amounts and fixed assets, is below the current target window of between £9,700,000 and £11,600,000.” — page 24
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Payments to trustees: The Dean and Residentiary Canons receive stipends in accordance with the scales laid down by the Church Commissioners, the Archbishops Council and the Church of England Pensions Board. In addition, in line with a number of other cathedrals, Residentiary Canons may receive augmentation payments in respect of their responsibilities. The Lay Canons Worsley, Collier, Tembey, Dunsmore, Ali, Poole and Britton received no remuneration for their voluntary work.
“The Dean and Residentiary Canons receive stipends in accordance with the scales laid down by the Church Commissioners, the Archbishops Council and the Church of England Pensions Board. In addition, in line with a number of other cathedrals, Residentiary Canons may receive augmentation payments in respect of their responsibilities.” — page 46
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: York Glaziers' Trust
“Work carried out by the Trust in the year ended 31 December 2024 for the Chapter amounted to £463,013 (2023: £364,987). Goods purchased from York Glazier’s Trust by York Minster Enterprises Limited amounted to £4,545 (2023: £nil). The Chapter invoiced the Trust £13,871 for services provided in the year (2023: £14,772). As at 31 December 2024 amounts totalling £621 (2023: £4,930) are shown as owing from the Trust to Chapter and amounts totalling £Nil (2023: £Nil) shown as owing to the Trust by Chapter.”
“Chorister fees included in the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024 amounted to £397,284 (2023: £393,160).” — page 65
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: St Peter's School
“Work carried out by the Trust in the year ended 31 December 2024 for the Chapter amounted to £463,013 (2023: £364,987). Goods purchased from York Glazier’s Trust by York Minster Enterprises Limited amounted to £4,545 (2023: £nil). The Chapter invoiced the Trust £13,871 for services provided in the year (2023: £14,772). As at 31 December 2024 amounts totalling £621 (2023: £4,930) are shown as owing from the Trust to Chapter and amounts totalling £Nil (2023: £Nil) shown as owing to the Trust by Chapter.”
“Chorister fees included in the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024 amounted to £397,284 (2023: £393,160).” — page 65
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: York Minster Fund
“Work carried out by the Trust in the year ended 31 December 2024 for the Chapter amounted to £463,013 (2023: £364,987). Goods purchased from York Glazier’s Trust by York Minster Enterprises Limited amounted to £4,545 (2023: £nil). The Chapter invoiced the Trust £13,871 for services provided in the year (2023: £14,772). As at 31 December 2024 amounts totalling £621 (2023: £4,930) are shown as owing from the Trust to Chapter and amounts totalling £Nil (2023: £Nil) shown as owing to the Trust by Chapter.”
“Chorister fees included in the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024 amounted to £397,284 (2023: £393,160).” — page 65
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Friends of York Minster
“Work carried out by the Trust in the year ended 31 December 2024 for the Chapter amounted to £463,013 (2023: £364,987). Goods purchased from York Glazier’s Trust by York Minster Enterprises Limited amounted to £4,545 (2023: £nil). The Chapter invoiced the Trust £13,871 for services provided in the year (2023: £14,772). As at 31 December 2024 amounts totalling £621 (2023: £4,930) are shown as owing from the Trust to Chapter and amounts totalling £Nil (2023: £Nil) shown as owing to the Trust by Chapter.”
“Chorister fees included in the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024 amounted to £397,284 (2023: £393,160).” — page 65
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Trading subsidiary: York Minster Enterprises Limited
“York Minster Enterprises Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary, undertakes trading activities on behalf of the Chapter and transfers profits back to the Chapter through Gift Aid, under the Deed of Covenant dated 27th March 1998.” — page 65
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Year-over-year changes
- Employees paid over £60,000: 3 (FY2023) → 1 (FY2024).
Leadership, per the charity’s website
- The Most Reverend Stephen Cottrell — Archbishop of York
- The Very Revd Dominic Barrington — Dean of York
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2024)
Total income
£18.3m
Total spending
£11.6m
Cost of raising funds
£4.2m
Reserves (reported)
£4.9m
Employees
143
Trustees
- Alan Dunsmore
- Camilla Faith
- Dr Catherine Eve Poole
- Jonathan Britton
- PETER NEVILLE COLLIER KC
- REVD CANON TIMOTHY GOODE
- Rev Canon James Harley Milne
- Revd Canon Margaret McLean
- Robert Edward Hornby
- Sir William Worsley
- The Very Reverend Dominic Matthew Jesse Barrington
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/12/2024 | £18.3m | £11.6m |
| 31/12/2023 | £12.9m | £10.2m |
Common questions
Is YORK MINSTER financially healthy?
Per its FY2024 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net surplus of £6,643,000 for the year ended 31 December 2024, driven largely by grant income for the Centre of Excellence. Per the trustees' report, free unrestricted reserves of £4,885,000 are below the stated policy target of £9,700,000 to £11,600,000, though the trustees note this does not concern them due to available designated funds. The charity confirmed it is a going concern with sufficient resources to continue operations for at least twelve months. Its FY2024 accounts were audited by BHP LLP.
What does the highest-paid employee of YORK MINSTER earn?
Per its FY2024 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the £90,001 - £100,000 band, and 1 employees earned over £60,000.
Who funds YORK MINSTER?
Funders whose own accounts filings name YORK MINSTER as a grant recipient include CATHEDRAL MUSIC TRUST.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| CATHEDRAL MUSIC TRUST | FY2021 | £14k |
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 24/07/2007 | £10.5m | "York Minster Revealed" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 03/02/2006 | £48k | "York Minster Development Campaign" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 19/11/1996 | £54k | "York Minster Exhibition Space Feasibilty Study" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 24/09/1996 | £967k | "York Minster Library Extension" |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE OUSELEY CHURCH MUSIC TRUST | 5 | £21k |
| THE JULIA RAUSING TRUST | 2 | £775k |
| LEICESTER CATHEDRAL CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £3.5m |
| THE MASTER CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £1.7m |
| THE FRIENDS OF GLOUCESTER CATHEDRAL CIO | 1 | £455k |
| THE LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE | 1 | £374k |
| THE HOBSON CHARITY LIMITED | 1 | £162k |
| THE KIRBY LAING FOUNDATION | 1 | £100k |
Charities like this
- THE CATHEDRAL AND COLLEGIATE CHURCH OF ST MARY, ST DENYS AND ST GEORGE IN MANCHESTER
- THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST MARTIN, LEICESTER
- CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF THE HOLY AND UNDIVIDED TRINITY OF CARLISLE
- GLOUCESTER CATHEDRAL
- FRIENDS OF YORK MINSTER
- BRISTOL CATHEDRAL
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YORK MINSTER | £18.3m | £90,001 - £100,000 | 1 | below | 69.8% | no doubt |
| THE CATHEDRAL AND COLLEGIATE CHURCH OF ST MARY, ST DENYS AND ST GEORGE IN MANCHESTER | £1.9m | £90,000 - £99,999 | 1 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST MARTIN, LEICESTER | £4.4m | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF THE HOLY AND UNDIVIDED TRINITY OF CARLISLE | £2.0m | more than £60,000 | 1 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| GLOUCESTER CATHEDRAL | £4.8m | £70,001 - £80,000 | 1 | below | — | material uncertainty |
| FRIENDS OF YORK MINSTER | £146k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |