The House of the Blessed Mary the Virgin in Oxford, Commonly Called Oriel College, of the Foundation of Edward the Second of Famous Memory Sometime King of England

Analysis

The House of the Blessed Mary the Virgin in Oxford, Commonly Called Oriel College, of the Foundation of Edward the Second of Famous Memory Sometime King of England is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Oxford. It was registered in May 2011, 15 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, religious activities, amateur sport and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under religion. Legally it is a charitable trust. It says it provides buildings/facilities/open space, provides services and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending July 2025, The House of the Blessed Mary the Virgin in Oxford, Commonly Called Oriel College, of the Foundation of Edward the Second of Famous Memory Sometime King of England reported income of £15.8m and spending of £15.9m, spending 101% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from July 2021 to July 2025, income grew from £6.6m to £15.8m (+140%), an average of +24% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to July 2022, when income rose by 92%. Over the whole period it spent 125% of the income it received.

Among 20,496 England and Wales charities whose main cause is religion and that reported income, The House of the Blessed Mary the Virgin in Oxford, Commonly Called Oriel College, of the Foundation of Edward the Second of Famous Memory Sometime King of England sits at the 100th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 99th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Mayfield School Ltd (£15.4m), St Columba's College and Preparatory School (£16.9m) and The York Diocesan Board of Finance Limited (£15.0m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 55%, investments 24%, donations and legacies 18% and trading 2.7%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £255k. Charitable activities took 88% of spending and raising funds 12%. Reserves of £5.0m would cover about 4 months of spending at that rate. It employed 220 people.

Data notes from the register: Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.