NORTHAMPTON ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESAN TRUST
The advancement of the Roman Catholic religion in the Diocese of Northampton through parishes, schools and other curial bodies.
Latest income
£9.2m
Latest spending
£10.7m
Registered
1969
Accounts read
FY2025
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported an overall loss for the year of £1,188,268, driven by a 22.1% increase in total expenditure to £10,733,198, largely due to deferred church property repairs and rising utility costs. Per the trustees' report, unrestricted reserves stood at £8,155,505, which represents approximately 14.6 months of unrestricted expenditure, falling within the stated prudent policy target of 12–15 months.
What the accounts disclose
Employees paid over £60,000: 2
“Key management personnel received salary, employer’s national insurance and pension contributions of £289,491 (2024: £283,097).” — page 34
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Largest income source: Parish offertory/collections (67% of income)
“The principal funding source of the Diocese is the parish offertory collection.” — page 10
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Reserves policy: 12 – 15 months’ expenditure (held: £8.2m)
“The Trustees consider that a prudent level of free reserves (those unrestricted funds not invested in fixed assets or designated for specific purposes) is the equivalent of 12 – 15 months’ expenditure.” — page 11
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: The Diocese also encompasses several Catholic schools. Those schools which are voluntary aided are exempt Charities... The Bishop of Northampton appoints Foundation Governors to the Governing Bodies of these schools, and those appointed by the Bishop make the majority of the Governing Bodies.
“The Diocese also encompasses several Catholic schools. Those schools which are voluntary aided are exempt Charities under the Schools Standards and Framework Act 1988 and their activities are not reflected in the financial statements attached to this report. The Bishop of Northampton appoints Foundation Governors to the Governing Bodies of these schools, and those appointed by the Bishop make the majority of the Governing Bodies.” — page 6
“The attached accounts include the assets and activities of four trusts which are incorporated as separate charities: Northampton Diocese Education Fund Charity Number 267132 Lord Braye’s Foundation Charity Number 242281 The Charity of Frances Alice Chesterton Charity Number 252034 Northampton Slough Diocese Educational Trust Charity Number 1165631” — page 6
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: The attached accounts include the assets and activities of four trusts which are incorporated as separate charities: Northampton Diocese Education Fund Charity Number 267132 Lord Braye’s Foundation Charity Number 242281 The Charity of Frances Alice Chesterton Charity Number 252034 Northampton Slough Diocese Educational Trust Charity Number 1165631
“The Diocese also encompasses several Catholic schools. Those schools which are voluntary aided are exempt Charities under the Schools Standards and Framework Act 1988 and their activities are not reflected in the financial statements attached to this report. The Bishop of Northampton appoints Foundation Governors to the Governing Bodies of these schools, and those appointed by the Bishop make the majority of the Governing Bodies.” — page 6
“The attached accounts include the assets and activities of four trusts which are incorporated as separate charities: Northampton Diocese Education Fund Charity Number 267132 Lord Braye’s Foundation Charity Number 242281 The Charity of Frances Alice Chesterton Charity Number 252034 Northampton Slough Diocese Educational Trust Charity Number 1165631” — page 6
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: The charity has two subsidiary companies, RCDN Property Services Ltd and St Thomas of Canterbury Cathedral Centre Ltd. In the opinion of the trustees, the activities of RCDN Property Services Ltd and St Thomas of Canterbury Cathedral Centre Ltd are immaterial to the group as a whole and therefore these companies have not been consolidated into these financial statements.
“The Diocese also encompasses several Catholic schools. Those schools which are voluntary aided are exempt Charities under the Schools Standards and Framework Act 1988 and their activities are not reflected in the financial statements attached to this report. The Bishop of Northampton appoints Foundation Governors to the Governing Bodies of these schools, and those appointed by the Bishop make the majority of the Governing Bodies.” — page 6
“The attached accounts include the assets and activities of four trusts which are incorporated as separate charities: Northampton Diocese Education Fund Charity Number 267132 Lord Braye’s Foundation Charity Number 242281 The Charity of Frances Alice Chesterton Charity Number 252034 Northampton Slough Diocese Educational Trust Charity Number 1165631” — page 6
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Trading subsidiary: RCDN Property Services Ltd, St Thomas of Canterbury Cathedral Centre Ltd
“The charity has two subsidiary companies, RCDN Property Services Ltd and St Thomas of Canterbury Cathedral Centre Ltd. In the opinion of the trustees, the activities of RCDN Property Services Ltd and St Thomas of Canterbury Cathedral Centre Ltd are immaterial to the group as a whole and therefore these companies have not been consolidated into these financial statements.” — page 20
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Property (HM Land Registry)
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)
Total income
£9.2m
Total spending
£10.7m
Cost of raising funds
£206k
Reserves (reported)
£28.1m
Employees
114
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (14/05/2025)
Trustees
- Northampton Roman Catholic Diocese Trustee(The)
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/03/2025 | £9.2m | £10.7m |
| 31/03/2024 | £10.4m | £8.8m |
| 31/03/2023 | £7.8m | £8.4m |
| 31/03/2022 | £7.7m | £6.2m |
| 31/03/2021 | £7.7m | £6.4m |
Common questions
Is NORTHAMPTON ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESAN TRUST financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported an overall loss for the year of £1,188,268, driven by a 22.1% increase in total expenditure to £10,733,198, largely due to deferred church property repairs and rising utility costs. Per the trustees' report, unrestricted reserves stood at £8,155,505, which represents approximately 14.6 months of unrestricted expenditure, falling within the stated prudent policy target of 12–15 months. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by HaysMac LLP.
Who funds NORTHAMPTON ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESAN TRUST?
Funders whose own accounts filings name NORTHAMPTON ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESAN TRUST as a grant recipient include THE FINNIS SCOTT FOUNDATION.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| THE FINNIS SCOTT FOUNDATION | FY2025 | £5k |
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 31/01/2025 | £20k | The Christ the King Community Hall Development Project. |
| UK government | 24/07/2024 | £-95k | Transformation Fund |
| UK government | 01/04/2023 | £95k | Transformation Fund |
| UK government | 01/04/2020 | £2.4m | School Condition Allocation - Voluntary Aided Sector Recipients |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 19/09/2019 | £10k | Cathedral Centre Coach House Cafe |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| CATHOLIC TRUST FOR ENGLAND AND WALES | 2 | £305k |
| THE ALBERT GUBAY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | 2 | £211k |
| SISTERS OF THE CROSS AND PASSION CIO | 1 | — |
| THE VINEHILL TRUST | 1 | £4.7m |
| CHARITY OF SIR RICHARD WHITTINGTON | 1 | £75k |
| SISTERS OF MERCY SUNDERLAND | 1 | £55k |
| THE ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE FUND | 1 | £31k |
| THE PILGRIM TRUST | 1 | £22k |
Charities like this
- NOTTINGHAM ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESAN TRUSTEES
- DIOCESE OF HEXHAM AND NEWCASTLE
- EAST ANGLIA ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESAN TRUST
- PLYMOUTH DIOCESAN TRUST
- LEEDS DIOCESAN TRUST
- THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF CAMBRIDGE ST. BARNABAS
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NORTHAMPTON ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESAN TRUST | £9.2m | — | 2 | within | — | no doubt |
| NOTTINGHAM ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESAN TRUSTEES | £13.5m | more than £60,000 | 1 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| DIOCESE OF HEXHAM AND NEWCASTLE | £12.9m | — | 4 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| EAST ANGLIA ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESAN TRUST | £8.1m | more than £60,000 | 3 | above | — | no doubt |
| PLYMOUTH DIOCESAN TRUST | £7.6m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| LEEDS DIOCESAN TRUST | £13.3m | — | — | above | — | no doubt |