FRIENDS OF BRISTOL CATHEDRAL

Registered charity 274399 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

We provide funding to assist the Dean and Chapter to maintain and beautify the church and and support its worship, music and outreach.

Objects

TO CO-OPERATE WITH THE DEAN AND CHAPTER IN: 1. PRESERVING AND RESTORING THE FABRIC, FITTINGS, ORNAMENTS, VESTMENTS AND OTHER CONTENTS OF AND IN THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF THE HOLY AND UNDIVIDED TRINITY IN BRISTOL AND THE PRECINCTS THEREOF (EXCLUDING HOUSES OF RESIDENCE); 2. FURTHERING ANY SCHEME TO MAINTAIN, TO PROTECT AND SET FORWARD THEIR UTILITY; 3. ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF WORSHIP THROUGH MUSIC AND ARTS; 4. SUPPORTING THE EDUCATIONAL WORK OF THE CATHEDRAL.

Area of benefit: DIOCESE OF BRISTOL

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

Causes: Education/training · Religious Activities · Arts/culture/heritage/science · Environment/conservation/heritage · website · Get email alerts

Registered contact address: Bristol, City of, South West, England (from the postcode on the register)

Latest income

£87k

Latest spending

£66k

Registered

1977

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The charity reported an operating surplus of £21,316 for the year, driven largely by a £71,995 legacy. Total reserves increased to £410,472, although investment values decreased by £13,488. The accounts state that all operations are continuing operations.

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

What the accounts disclose

Largest income source: Legacies (83% of income)

“Legacies 71995 - 71995 10000” — page 8

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 3 of 6 completeness components.

From the charity’s annual return (Part A, self-declared)

Answers and figures the charity gave in Part A of its annual return to the Charity Commission. They are self-declared: not verified by the Commission or by this site. Only positive answers and figures are listed; items not listed are simply not shown.

Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2025

Grant-making is its main activity

Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2024

Grant-making is its main activity

Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2022

Volunteers: 10
Grant-making is its main activity

Source: this charity’s annual returns on the Charity Commission register.

Trustees · trustee networks

Dr Penelope Elaine Starnschair
Margaret Helen Taylor
Oliver Hibbert
Rev Rachel Jeanne Alexandra Barrett
Richard Alex McComas
Sally-Anne Morris
Susan Stevens

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

Operates in: Bath And North East Somerset · Bristol City · North Somerset · South Gloucestershire · Wiltshire

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/12/2025	£87k	£66k
31/12/2024	£20k	£6k
31/12/2023	£7k	£60k
31/12/2022	£17k	£8k
31/12/2021	£13k	£6k

Common questions

Is FRIENDS OF BRISTOL CATHEDRAL financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The charity reported an operating surplus of £21,316 for the year, driven largely by a £71,995 legacy. Total reserves increased to £410,472, although investment values decreased by £13,488. The accounts state that all operations are continuing operations. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.

Funders of similar charities

Funders whose accounts show grants to charities similar to this one (and no recorded grant to this charity) — a starting list for fundraisers.

Funder	Similar charities funded	Amount to them
ASPEN TRUST	1	£4k
THE EARL FITZWILLIAM CHARITABLE TRUST	1	£4k
SIR JEREMIAH COLMAN GIFT TRUST	1	£2k

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with THE FRIENDS OF ST MARY'S CHURCH, BUNGAY.

THE FRIENDS OF ST MARY'S CHURCH, BUNGAY income £27k
THE FRIENDS OF HEREFORD CATHEDRAL income £126k
FRIENDS OF WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL income £1.2m
FRIENDS OF PETERBOROUGH CATHEDRAL income £29k
FRIENDS OF BRISTOL MUSEUMS, GALLERIES & ARCHIVES income £165k
FRIENDS OF WORCESTER CATHEDRAL income £41k

Side by side with its peers

Charity	Income	Top pay band	Staff >£60k	Reserves vs policy	Fundraising cost	Going concern
FRIENDS OF BRISTOL CATHEDRAL	£87k	—	—	unclear	—	no doubt
THE FRIENDS OF ST MARY'S CHURCH, BUNGAY FY2025	£27k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
THE FRIENDS OF HEREFORD CATHEDRAL FY2025	£126k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
FRIENDS OF WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL FY2025	£1.2m	—	0	above	—	no doubt
FRIENDS OF PETERBOROUGH CATHEDRAL FY2025	£29k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
FRIENDS OF BRISTOL MUSEUMS, GALLERIES & ARCHIVES FY2025	£165k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt

Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.