Waverley Abbey Trust

Analysis

Waverley Abbey Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Surrey. It was registered in June 1986, 40 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and religious activities, which this site groups under religion. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 01990308). It says it provides buildings/facilities/open space, provides services and other charitable activities.

In the financial year ending August 2025, Waverley Abbey Trust reported income of £4.7m and spending of £4.6m, spending 99% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from August 2021 to August 2025, income grew from £3.0m to £4.7m (+58%), an average of +12% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to August 2022, when income rose by 53%. Over the whole period it spent 105% of the income it received.

Among 20,496 England and Wales charities whose main cause is religion and that reported income, Waverley Abbey Trust sits at the 99th 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 98th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Universities & Colleges Christian Fellowship (£4.6m), Scripture Union (£4.7m) and The Corporation of the Cathedral Church of Christ in Liverpool (£4.6m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 44%, donations and legacies 43%, trading 11% and investments 1.3%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £284k. Charitable activities took 71% of spending and raising funds 27%. Reserves of £900k would cover about 2 months of spending at that rate. It employed 80 people.