THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF SAINT JAMES AND SAINT EDMUND, BURY ST EDMUNDS
Religious services, music and choirs, community projects & social outreach programs
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported a small net deficit of £5,304 for the year ended 31 December 2025, with total expenditure of £2,727,943 against total income of £2,722,639. Per the trustees' report, unrestricted reserves excluding property were £83,959, which the Chapter acknowledges is below their stated policy target of three months' operating expenditure (£296,000). The auditors confirmed that the financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis with no material uncertainties identified.
What the accounts disclose
“At the end of the year the Cathedral held unrestricted funds, excluding those relating to property, of £83,959. Chapter acknowledges that these reserves are below the level it deems appropriate for sustainability” — page 28
“During the year, the Group provided services to associated organisations totalling £6,211 (2024: £4,469). As at 31 December 2025, £1,992 (2024: £153) was due from associated organisations.” — page 53
“The accounts presented here are the consolidated accounts of the charity and of St Edmundsbury Cathedral Enterprises Limited, the company wholly owned by the charity.” — page 11
Leadership, per the charity’s website
- The Rt Reverend Dr Joanne Grenfell — Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich
- The Very Reverend Joe Hawes — Dean
- Sarah-Jane Powell — Chief Operating Officer
- Caroline Rouse — Chief Finance Officer
- Claudia Grinnell — Director of Music
- Stewart Alderman — Enterprises Director
Funders the charity credits
- Allchurches Trust
- The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Property (HM Land Registry)
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2025)
Trustees
- Rev Joseph Patricius Haweschair
- Barbara Marina Pycraft
- JOHN MARK PENDLINGTON
- Jane Haviland Webster
- Neil Peter Parsons
- Paul Torrington
- Rev Katherine Helen Cunliffe
- Rev Matthew James Vernon
- Rev Victoria Johnson
- Susan Margaret Hughes
- TERESA LOUISE STARK
- The Venerable Sally Ann Gaze
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/12/2025 | £2.7m | £2.7m |
| 31/12/2024 | £2.2m | £2.2m |
| 31/12/2023 | £1.9m | £2.0m |
Common questions
Is THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF SAINT JAMES AND SAINT EDMUND, BURY ST EDMUNDS financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a small net deficit of £5,304 for the year ended 31 December 2025, with total expenditure of £2,727,943 against total income of £2,722,639. Per the trustees' report, unrestricted reserves excluding property were £83,959, which the Chapter acknowledges is below their stated policy target of three months' operating expenditure (£296,000). The auditors confirmed that the financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis with no material uncertainties identified. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by MA Partners Audit LLP.
Who funds THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF SAINT JAMES AND SAINT EDMUND, BURY ST EDMUNDS?
Funders whose own accounts filings name THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF SAINT JAMES AND SAINT EDMUND, BURY ST EDMUNDS as a grant recipient include St Edmundsbury Cathedral Trust, THE VANNECK CHARITABLE TRUST, CATHEDRAL MUSIC TRUST, THE OUSELEY CHURCH MUSIC TRUST.
Shared trustees with funders
- Paul Torrington — trustee here and at St Edmundsbury Cathedral Trust
- Rev Joseph Patricius Hawes — trustee here and at St Edmundsbury Cathedral Trust
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Edmundsbury Cathedral Trust | FY2024 | £36k | |
| THE VANNECK CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2025 | £15k | |
| CATHEDRAL MUSIC TRUST | FY2021 | £10k | |
| CATHEDRAL MUSIC TRUST | FY2022 | £7k | Financial support for cathedral music |
| THE OUSELEY CHURCH MUSIC TRUST | FY2023 | £2k | Grants for Musicians |
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 27/03/2024 | £7.9m | "The Abbey of St Edmund: A Millennium of English History in West Suffolk" |
Charities like this
- THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF BATH ST. BARTHOLOMEW
- BURY ST EDMUNDS AND DISTRICT CHRISTIAN YOUTH
- ST EDMUNDSBURY AND IPSWICH DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE
- St Andrews Chorleywood PCC
- THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF BOSTON
- THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST LUKE AND ST PETER
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF SAINT JAMES AND SAINT EDMUND, BURY ST EDMUNDS | £2.7m | — | 0 | below | — | no doubt |
| THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF BATH ST. BARTHOLOMEW | £449k | — | 0 | below | — | no doubt |
| BURY ST EDMUNDS AND DISTRICT CHRISTIAN YOUTH | £103k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| ST EDMUNDSBURY AND IPSWICH DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE | £10.1m | — | — | below | — | no doubt |
| St Andrews Chorleywood PCC | £641k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF BOSTON | £409k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |