The Oxford Centre for Mission Studies

Analysis

The Oxford Centre for Mission Studies is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Oxford. It was registered in September 1984, 42 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, religious activities and economic/community development/employment, which this site groups under religion. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 01835274). It says it provides buildings/facilities/open space, provides services and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending August 2025, The Oxford Centre for Mission Studies reported income of £1.4m and spending of £1.1m, leaving 20% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from August 2021 to August 2025, income grew from £1.3m to £1.4m (+7.2%), an average of +1.7% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to August 2023, when income dropped by 16%. Over the whole period it spent 87% of the income it received.

Among 20,496 England and Wales charities whose main cause is religion and that reported income, The Oxford Centre for Mission Studies 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 95th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Mount St Bernard Abbey Trustees Registered (£1.4m), Jami Mosque and Islamic Centre (Birmingham) Trustees Limited (£1.4m) and The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Michael & All Angels, Barnes (£1.4m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 55%, charitable activities 43% and investments 1.6%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £3,000. Charitable activities took 95% of spending and raising funds 3.6%. Grants to other organisations totalled £240. Reserves of £351k would cover about 4 months of spending at that rate. It employed 16 people.