THE SOCIETY OF THE PRECIOUS BLOOD

Registered charity 1206538 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

The Society of the Precious Blood is a religious community organised as a registered charity. By supporting the life and work of the Sisters who make up the community, the charity works to advance the Christian religion. Its activities include promoting retreats and quiet days and providing spiritual, emotional and psychological help to those who need it.

Objects

3.1 THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT, INCLUDING (BUT NOT LIMITED TO):3.1.1 THE PROMOTION OF THE RELIGIOUS LIFE GENERALLY AND IN PARTICULAR THE SUPPORT OF SISTERS OF THE COMMUNITY; 3.1.2 THE SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF THOSE WHO ARE CALLED TO THE WORK OF CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER AND INTERCESSION IN THEIR OWN SITUATIONS IN WHATEVER PART OF THE WORLD, AND IN PARTICULAR THOSE WHO ARE OR HAVE BEEN AFFILIATED TO THE COMMUNITY WHETHER AS OBLATES, COMPANIONS OR ASSOCIATES OR IN ANY OTHER WAY; 3.1.3 THE SUPPORT AND PROMOTION OF RETREATS AND QUIET DAYS; 3.1.4 THE PROMOTION AND MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC WORSHIP; AND/OR 3.1.5 THE PROMOTION OF RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL TEACHING; 3.2 THE PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION OF SPIRITUAL, EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH BY PROVIDING SUPPORTIVE HELP TO THOSE IN NEED THEREOF; AND/OR 3.3 THE ADVANCEMENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THE HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY OF BURNHAM ABBEY.

The charity’s charitable objects and area of benefit, quoted from its governing document as held on the Charity Commission register.

Causes: The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives · Religious Activities · Arts/culture/heritage/science · website · Get email alerts

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that unrestricted reserves stood at £3,108,717, which the Trustees consider adequate given the unpredictability of income and the significant costs associated with maintaining Burnham Abbey. The Charity is heavily dependent on investment income to fund its operations, as donations no longer constitute a significant proportion of incoming resources. While the going concern basis is appropriate, the Trustees note that selling investments may be necessary in 2026 to cover ongoing care and property expenses.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Accounts audited by Wenn Townsend. Discloses 4 of 6 completeness components.

Policies the charity declares

In its annual return the charity told the Commission that it has the policies listed below. This is self-declared: it is not verified by the Commission or by this site, and it is not evidence of how a policy works in practice.

• Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
• Complaints handling
• Complaints policy and procedures
• Financial reserves policy and procedures
• Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
• Internal risk management policy and procedures
• Investing charity funds policy and procedures
• Investment
• Safeguarding policy and procedures
• Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
• Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
• Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
• Trustee expenses policy and procedures

Property (HM Land Registry)

1 registered title in England and Wales held by the charity’s company or corporate body (1 freehold). All charity-held property. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2024)

Per its annual return, largest income source: Other (100% of income) — components as reported reconcile to the return’s total income; not from the accounts narrative.

Per its annual return, cost of raising funds: 0.0% of total income — below the median for charities its size (3.0%) (benchmarks).

Register events

• Received assets from another charity (16/07/2026) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.

Trustees · trustee networks

• SISTER VICTORIA ANN LAY SPBchair
• ALASTAIR JAMES HUNTER · trustee of 3 other charities
• DUNCAN JAMES MCCALLUM · trustee of 1 other charity
• Rev Mieke Aaltjen Cornelia Gaynor
• SISTER WENDY JENNIFER WARD SPB

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Buckinghamshire

Income and spending

Common questions