TMCP Who Are We

The Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes (TMCP) is a "Body Corporate" constituted under the Methodist Church Act 1939 to hold Legacies, Endowments and Accumulated Funds for and on behalf of local trustees of the Methodist Church. Together with our predecessor Boards in the Wesleyan and Primitive Churches we have a long history of over 150 years.

How we deliver our service

First and foremost the principal function of the Board, incorporated by the Methodist Church Act 1939, is to act as custodian trustee of all property held on Model Trusts of the Methodist Church Act 1976.

This property includes all land and buildings used for local church purposes, all Circuit and District manses and most Connexional properties, together with funds which support the mission of the church in these places.

The Board is custodian of approximately 8,910 separate trusts which include permanent endowments and other gifts to the churches. It is really important to distinguish our role as custodian trustees from that of the managing trustees.

TMCP as custodian trustees

We hold title.
We have a duty to ensure managing trustees do not act in breach of trust.
We do not get involved in the day-to-day management.

Role of managing trustees

Are responsible for the day to day management of the property.
Exercise power or discretion in respect of the property.

Through guidance and training, we shall continue to assist managing trustees as much as we can. We are here to provide a service and to ensure that all processes with which we are involved are clearly outlined.

TMCP holds a number of trusts (20 or so) received by settlement of which it is full trustee. Some have specific purposes ranging from holiday bursaries to loans for buildings. Some are for general Methodist charitable purposes.

Exemplary governance

The Board was incorporated by the Methodist Church Act 1939.

Cost of running the TMCP Board
The Board of Trustees consists of 16 members, with equal numbers of ministers and lay persons who are drawn from all walks of life to maintain a balance of skills in discharging trustee duties. Board members are appointed by the Methodist Conference on the nomination of the Board, which seeks to maintain a balance of appropriate professional expertise, Methodist experience and Connexional representation.

The Board meets three times a year and is served by two committees: an Executive Committee of three members and an Audit Committee of three members. Members of both committees are drawn from existing Board members. The Executive Committee meets three times a year and deals with much of the day-to-day decision making, whilst the Audit Committee is scheduled to meet twice a year.

TMCP Board Of Trustees 2009/2010

Revd Kenneth Street (Chair) Revd James Booth Revd Keith Davies Revd Paul Flowers Revd David Gamble Revd Doreen Hare Revd Jennifer Impey Revd Michael Sparrow	Mr Graham Danbury Mr Ralph Dransfield Dr Ian Harrison Mr John Jefferson Mr David Moore Mr Malcolm Pearson Mr G Alan Pimlott Mr Terry Wynn (Deputy Chair)
Some members of the TMCP Board

The TMCP Executive Committee


Revd Kenneth Street Chair	Mr Terry Wynn	Revd Michael Sparrow

TMCP Audit Committee


Mr Malcolm Pearson Chair	Mr John Jefferson	Mr David Moore

Outstanding expertise

TMCP has a professional team of 12 staff, led by the Chief Executive, Anne Hughes-Holmes, who joined TMCP in September 2006. Anne and her team are responsible for ensuring the Board’s functions and responsibilities as trustees are discharged on a day to day basis in accordance with the legal and accounting requirements of Methodism, charity and trust law.

The staff are a team of relevantly qualified and experienced specialists. A number of the team have worked for TMCP for many years and the Board values their loyalty.

Anne herself works closely with the Board and the Executive on strategic and planning issues; and the team continually builds on existing relationships with their colleagues in Resourcing Mission Office, Central Finance Board and the Methodist Church. All staff aim to promote a professional relationship between TMCP and any outside agencies with whom the organisation may be in contact.

In addition to providing legal services in our capacity as custodian trustees, TMCP’s legal section provides Connexional services in a number of specific areas of specialism such as sharing agreements, water rates and burial grounds.

TMCP Staff


Anne Hughes-Holmes Chief Executive		Janet Street Finance Manager


Jatinder Kandola Senior Legal Officer	David Phillips Legal Officer	Amanda Flynn Legal Officer


Kathrin Rosenfeld PA to CE and Admin Officer	Brian Couch Senior Payments Officer	Simon Speechley Accounts Officer


Sven Sandal Payments Assistant	Kate Cocking Legal Administrator	Cathy Wood Legal Secretary


Rachael Griffiths Legal Secretary	Laura Gooding Locum Legal Officer


Helen Veitch Temp Legal Administrator	Hayley Lock Temp Junior Legal Secretary