Chair Role

VOLUNTEER ROLE:

Chair of Trustees for the Trust and Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) for Epworth Old Rectory

Location:

Home-based and meetings at Epworth Old Rectory.

Purpose and Objectives:

To lead and co-ordinate the work of the Trustees in caring for the property at Epworth Old Rectory (including buildings, land and artefacts) and promoting the mission aims of the Conference and the Trustees; to lead and co-ordinate the work of the CIO in developing the life of the Rectory as a museum and place of pilgrimage.

Responsible to:

The Conference of the Methodist Church in Britain and the World Methodist Council.

Relationships:

  1. The Strategic Manager, staff and volunteers of Epworth Old Rectory.
  2. The Methodist Conference.
  3. The World Methodist Council.
  4. The Methodist Heritage and Collections Officer (also governance and property staff of the Connexional Team).
  5. Methodist Women in Britain (MWiB).
  6. Trustees and curators/managers of Methodist heritage sites, archives, libraries and museums.
  7. Those responsible for oversight of listed buildings: the Methodist Conservation Officer, Historic England, the Planning department of North Lincolnshire Council.
  8. Other museums with similarities to Epworth Old Rectory.

Key Responsibilities:

  1. Chair meetings of the Trustees (usually twice a year) and the CIO as needed (currently bi-monthly).
  2. Progress the work of the Trustees and the CIO in accordance with the Forward Plan for the Rectory (in particular progressing and driving the development plans) and the Memorandum of Agreement between the Trustees (EOR016).
  3. Encourage and oversee fund raising and grant applications.
  4. Ensure the Board of Trustees and the CIO fulfil their responsibilities in reporting to the Conference of the Methodist Church in Britain and its subordinate bodies, the World Methodist council and the Charity Commission.
  5. Ensure proper line management of the Strategic Manager.
  6. Support the recruitment, motivation and management of the volunteer team.
  7. Advance the partnership with Methodist Women in Britain to develop a shared vision for the Rectory, facilitate the storage of the MWiB collection and develop relevant displays to
    SF056 Chair of Trustees Role Description October 2025.
  8. illustrate and record the history and life of women in Methodism in a fuller and more appealing way which is true to the heritage of Susanna Wesley.
  9. Promote advocacy for the Rectory and its work and cultivate the relationships with its stakeholders.

Induction may include:

  • Meeting with the outgoing Chair of the Trustees and Strategic Manager of Epworth Old Rectory.
  • Meeting with the Methodist Heritage and Collections Officer and familiarisation with the place of Epworth Old Rectory among the key Methodist heritage sites and collections across the Connexion.
  • Meeting with the officers of the World Methodist Council.

Likely commitment:

  • Attendance and chairing responsibilities at meetings of the Trustees and CIO.
  • Communication between meetings (usually electronic).
  • Occasional meetings with architect, planners etc. in relation to the development of the building.
  • Meetings with staff and volunteers at the Rectory.
  • Correspondence and meetings in relation to grant applications (e.g. National Lottery Heritage Fund) and fund raising.
  • Meetings with the officers of MWiB as needed.
  • Liaising with World Methodist Council Officers and attendance at meetings (as required and funds allow).

Expenses:

Because of the tight financial situation at the Rectory over the years, trustees have not claimed expenses for attending meetings. If this is likely to cause difficulty, arrangements for reimbursement of essential costs can be arranged

Essential experience and characteristics:

  • Understanding of and sympathy with the strategic direction of the mission of the Methodist Church and a clear understanding of how the Church’s heritage can contribute to this mission.
  • Leadership skills sufficient to ensure others work within agreed procedures and towards agreed targets, in particular the targets indicated in the Forward Plan and those required by funders, especially the British Methodist Church and the World Methodist Council.
  • Familiar with drafting reports and handling complex and extensive information and data at a strategic level.
  • Commitment to collaborative and team working.

Safeguarding:

Epworth Old Rectory Trust and CIO is committed to the safeguarding and protection of all children, young people, adults and its own staff and volunteers. It affirms that the needs of children and of adults when they are vulnerable and at risk are paramount. In this commitment it works closely with the Lincolnshire Methodist District Safeguarding Officer and aligns itself with the Lincolnshire Methodist District Safeguarding Policy.

All Trustees are required to undertaken relevant Safeguarding, EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) and Unconscious Bias training, provided by the Methodist Church.

Associated Documents

Background

Governance Documents (EOR Trust Constitution EOR006 and EOR CIO Constitution EOR017

Memorandum of Understanding (EOR016)

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