St Cecilia's Abbey Ryde Isle of Wight
Analysis
St Cecilia's Abbey Ryde Isle of Wight is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Ryde. It was registered in August 2001, 25 years ago. Its declared purposes cover religious activities, which this site groups under religion. Legally it is a charitable trust. It says it makes grants to individuals, makes grants to organisations and provides buildings/facilities/open space.
In the financial year ending December 2025, St Cecilia's Abbey Ryde Isle of Wight reported income of £1.2m and spending of £919k, leaving 24% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £801k to £1.2m (+50%), an average of +11% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2023, when income rose by 113%. Over the whole period it spent 64% of the income it received.
Among 20,496 England and Wales charities whose main cause is religion and that reported income, St Cecilia's Abbey Ryde Isle of Wight sits at the 97th percentile: it is larger than about 97% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 94th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Madni Trust (£1.2m), MGS Charitable Trust (£1.2m) and Toldos Yaakov Yosef Institutions Trust (£1.2m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from investments 82%, charitable activities 13% and donations and legacies 4.1%. Charitable activities took 87% of spending and raising funds 10%. Grants to other organisations totalled £165k. Reserves of £16.5m would cover about 209 months of spending at that rate. It employed 6 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 4.1%
- Charitable activities 13%
- Investments 82%
- Other 1.5%
In the charity's own words
The advancement of the Catholic religion, principally though not exclusively through the maintenance of St Cecilia's Abbey and the community of Benedictine nuns who inhabit it and who celebrate daily in public the Divine Office, sung in Latin Gregorian Chant, and who minister to those seeking some share in the contemplative life through retreats and other contacts.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Madni Trust | Nottingham | £1.2m |
| MGS Charitable Trust | London | £1.2m |
| Toldos Yaakov Yosef Institutions Trust | London | £1.2m |
| The Dean and Chapter of Llandaff Cathedral | Cardiff | £1.2m |