The Friends Of Wells Cathedral

Grant making to Cathedral Chapter & Departments. Membership activities such as talks and outings.

Activities & Mission

Grant making to Cathedral Chapter & Departments. Membership activities such as talks and outings.

Grants

The Friends Of Wells Cathedral is a grant-making charity: making grants is its main activity.

Gives grants to: organisations
Grants paid (2025): £224,872
Who it helps: children and young people, other charities or voluntary bodies and the general public
What it supports: religious activities and the environment, conservation, or heritage

As recorded with the Charity Commission. To ask about applying, use the contact details and check the trustees and latest accounts below.

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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

Somerset

Financial Information

Latest Income

£817,927

Latest Expenditure

£2,293,105

Financial Efficiency

Program Ratio 275.5%

% of income going directly to charitable activities

Higher than 99% of UK Associations charities with income £100K to £1M (sample: 132). How is this calculated?

Overall Efficiency 98.3%

% of expenditure going to programs (vs overhead)

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

Administrative Ratio 1.9%

Overhead (fundraising + governance) as % of total expenditure

Lower overhead than 58% of UK Associations 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 £758,923

Charitable Activities £10,637

Other Trading £0

Investments £48,318

Other Income £0

Expenditure Categories

Charitable Expenditure £2,253,036

Raising Funds £40,069

Governance £3,790

Grants to Institutions £224,872

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 2025.

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
2025	£817,927	£2,293,105	£2,253,036	£254,687	£0	1 / 13
2024	£546,664	£48,226	£7,041	£1,734,344	£674,823	0 / 10
2023	£158,383	£48,158				0 / 3
2022	£389,336	£35,608				0 / 2
2021	£277,979	£14,232				0 / 12

Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers

Frequently asked questions about The Friends Of Wells Cathedral

What does The Friends Of Wells Cathedral do?

Grant making to Cathedral Chapter & Departments. Membership activities such as talks and outings.

How much income did The Friends Of Wells Cathedral report in 2025?

The Friends Of Wells Cathedral reported total income of £818k and reported expenditure of £2.29m for the financial year ending 2025, based on the most recent annual return filed with the Charity Commission.

How efficient is The Friends Of Wells Cathedral?

The Friends Of Wells Cathedral has a program ratio of 275.5%, meaning that share of its income goes directly to charitable activities. This is higher than 99% of UK Associations charities with income £100K to £1M (sample of 132 charities). See our methodology for how this is calculated.

When was The Friends Of Wells Cathedral registered as a charity?

The Friends Of Wells Cathedral was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 13 September 1962 as charity number 208797. It has been registered for 64 years.

Who runs The Friends Of Wells Cathedral?

The Friends Of Wells Cathedral is governed by a board of 12 trustees. The chair of trustees is Arnold Wills. Trustees are legally responsible for the charity's governance and are listed in full on its profile.

Where does The Friends Of Wells Cathedral operate?

The Friends Of Wells Cathedral operates in Somerset, as recorded in its Charity Commission filing.

Is The Friends Of Wells Cathedral a registered charity?

Yes — The Friends Of Wells Cathedral is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 208797.