A gift in your will, no matter how small or large, can make a real difference to the work of St Michael’s. The St Michael and All Angels Bedford Park Trust helps to meet the strategic rather than the day-to-day needs of the parish. For example, as parishes have had to become increasingly self-financing, the Trust has met some of the costs of employing and housing the Curate of St Michael’s, who plays a key role in the work of the parish. In future, such lasting gifts will become even more important.
Pick up a copy of our Legacies leaflet in church, or download a PDF copy here.
The St Michael and All Angels Church Bedford Park Trust
The St Michael and All Angels Church Bedford Park Trust was set up and registered as a charitable trust in 2003 to support the ministry, maintenance and mission at St Michael’s. The constitution was adopted on 15th August 2003 with the following objects:
- (i) to further the religious and pastoral work of the Church of England in the ecclesiastical parish of St Michael and All Angels Bedford Park;
- (ii) to support the ecclesiastical parish of St Michael and All Angels Bedford Park in its responsibility for maintaining and developing the fabric of the buildings used by the parish in its worship and other aspects of its ministry.
The charity was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 22nd August 2003. Recent annual reports and accounts of the Trust can be accessed via the Charity Commission website.
The Trustees
There are currently four Trustees – appointed for four-year terms. The Vicar of St Michael’s, Father Kevin Morris, is always one of the Trustees and chairs the Trust. The other Trustees, who must be communicant members of St Michael’s and have a sound understanding of how the Parish works, are:
- The Rev’d Eileen McGregor, a former Churchwarden of St Michael’s
- The Rev’d Peter Wolton, Associate Vicar of the United Benefice of Holland Park; and
- Sir Michael Pownall, a former Treasurer of St Michael’s.
Trust income
The main income of the Trust to date has been through legacies but it can also receive one-off donations, for example from the sale of an asset or a property. The Trust also receives a percentage of the profits of the annual Bedford Park Festival. The Trust’s income varies considerably from year to year in part depending on the receipt of legacies. The longer term aim is to accumulate sufficient capital so that any expenditure can be made from the interest raised.
Trust expenditure
The Trust is not used for the day to day needs of the Church but for key strategic needs. One of these needs relates to the position of Curate. As parishes are now expected, to a considerable extent, to be self-financing, St Michael’s has recently had to meet some of the employment and residential costs of the Curate. Over the years, successive Curates have played a key role in the Parish not least in helping to maintain our regular weekly services and in reaching out to members of the Parish. Under the close supervision of Father Kevin, they are ready, after completion of their curacy, to serve in parishes of their own or in other posts. In this way, St Michael’s plays an important role in supporting the Church of England. Accordingly. the Trust has agreed to meet some of these new ongoing costs.
Pick up a copy of our Legacies leaflet in church, or download a PDF copy here.