Ely Cathedral Trust

Also known as: The Ely Cathedral Appeal Fund, Order of Saint Etheldreda

The objects of Ely Cathedral Trust are to apply income for the repair and maintenance of the Cathedral and its surrounding buildings and to support the Cathedral Choir.

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Activities & Mission

The objects of Ely Cathedral Trust are to apply income for the repair and maintenance of the Cathedral and its surrounding buildings and to support the Cathedral Choir.

Areas of Operation

Where this charity is registered to operate, as self-declared to the Charity Commission. These are regulatory classifications, not a list of active programmes, and don't necessarily indicate fundraising activity in each location.

Local Authority

Cambridgeshire

Financial Information

Latest Income

£745,064

Latest Expenditure

£756,286

Financial Efficiency

Program Ratio 100.6%

% of income going directly to charitable activities

Higher than 75% of UK Arts charities with income £100K to £1M (sample: 962). How is this calculated?

Overall Efficiency 99.1%

% of expenditure going to programs (vs overhead)

Higher than 58% of UK Arts charities with income £100K to £1M. How is this calculated?

Administrative Ratio 3.0%

Overhead (fundraising + governance) as % of total expenditure

Lower overhead than 49% of UK Arts charities with income £100K to £1M. (Lower overhead is generally read as more efficient.) How is this calculated?

Latest Financial Breakdown

Income Sources

Donations & Legacies £412,301

Charitable Activities £0

Other Trading £0

Investments £332,763

Other Income £0

Expenditure Categories

Charitable Expenditure £749,279

Raising Funds £7,007

Governance £15,932

Grants to Institutions £733,347

Other Expenditure £0

Financial Trend

Annual Returns

As filed with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Most recent filing covers the financial year ending 2024.

One or more years show a significant change in income (over ±100%) compared with the prior year. This usually reflects a merger, transfer of activities, restated accounts, or a one-off legacy — not necessarily a real change in operating scale. See the methodology for context.

Financial Year	Income	Expenditure	Charitable Spending	Net Assets	Reserves	Staff
2024	£745,064	£756,286	£749,279	£11,881,806	£3,095,991	0 / 0
2023	£672,721	£808,904	£797,694	£11,634,117	£2,821,826	0 / 0
2022	£1,857,217	£710,001	£710,001	£10,797,559	£2,512,933	0 / 0
2021	£396,918	£457,706				0 / 0
2020	£447,312	£690,471				0 / 0

Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers

Frequently asked questions about Ely Cathedral Trust

What does Ely Cathedral Trust do?

The objects of Ely Cathedral Trust are to apply income for the repair and maintenance of the Cathedral and its surrounding buildings and to support the Cathedral Choir.

How much income did Ely Cathedral Trust report in 2024?

Ely Cathedral Trust reported total income of £745k and reported expenditure of £756k for the financial year ending 2024, based on the most recent annual return filed with the Charity Commission.

How efficient is Ely Cathedral Trust?

Ely Cathedral Trust has a program ratio of 100.6%, meaning that share of its income goes directly to charitable activities. This is higher than 75% of UK Arts charities with income £100K to £1M (sample of 962 charities). See our methodology for how this is calculated.

When was Ely Cathedral Trust registered as a charity?

Ely Cathedral Trust was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 24 November 1972 as charity number 264803. It has been registered for 54 years.

Who runs Ely Cathedral Trust?

Ely Cathedral Trust is governed by a board of 8 trustees. Trustees are legally responsible for the charity's governance and are listed in full on its profile.

Where does Ely Cathedral Trust operate?

Ely Cathedral Trust operates in Cambridgeshire, as recorded in its Charity Commission filing.

Is Ely Cathedral Trust a registered charity?

Yes — Ely Cathedral Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 264803.