Selly Oak Methodist Church
Charity 1134960
Overview
Summary
Selly Oak Methodist Church appears to operate as more than a worshipping congregation: it is a locally rooted Christian institution with a sizeable membership, regular pastoral presence and premises that function as shared community infrastructure. Its reported purposes span welfare, inclusion, education, recreation and wider charitable support, suggesting a broad enabling role. However, the available evidence does not show which activities are substantial in practice, who uses the building, or how its grants and services are distributed.
Operational geography
No operational geography is currently available for this organisation.
Areas of work
- Disability
- Education/training
- Environment/conservation/heritage
- General Charitable Purposes
- Human Rights/religious Or Racial Harmony/equality Or Diversity
- Overseas Aid/famine Relief
- Recreation
- Religious Activities
- The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty
Who they help
- Children/young People
- Elderly/old People
- Other Charities Or Voluntary Bodies
- People Of A Particular Ethnic Or Racial Origin
- People With Disabilities
- The General Public/mankind
How they help
- Makes Grants To Individuals
- Makes Grants To Organisations
- Provides Buildings/facilities/open Space
- Provides Human Resources
- Provides Services
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
A faith community functioning as local infrastructure
The church appears to combine religious life with an enabling role for other local groups, using its premises as a recurring shared resource rather than solely as a place of worship.
Why it matters
This suggests its civic value may lie partly in hosting and connecting activity that is not directly delivered by the church. Understanding its building users could reveal relationships, unmet needs and possible collaboration routes across Selly Oak.
Show evidence
“The church premises are widely used throughout the week by church and local community organisations.”
Source:Organisation“Christian worship takes place every Friday and Sunday.”
Source:Organisation“Provides Buildings/facilities/open Space.”
Source:Charity Commission
Pastoral care may be its main direct community-facing offer
Its clearest named direct activity is pastoral care delivered both on-site and through outreach, focused on families, older people, people who are sick and people described as vulnerable.
Why it matters
This distinguishes the church from a venue-only organisation: it may hold trusted relationships with people who can be less visible in formal service systems. It would be worth exploring whether this role links people into wider support or identifies needs that other organisations do not see.
Show evidence
“We are a welcoming and inclusive family church - part of the Methodist Church in Britain, offering on-site and outreach pastoral care to families, the elderly, the sick and the vulnerable.”
Source:Organisation“Who the charity helps: Children/young People, Elderly/old People, People With Disabilities, People Of A Particular Ethnic Or Racial Origin, Other Charities Or Voluntary Bodies, The General Public/mankind.”
Source:Charity Commission
Broad charitable scope, unclear practical emphasis
The church reports an unusually broad range of charitable purposes and methods, including grants, services, staffing, poverty relief, education, equality, environmental activity and overseas aid. This may indicate a flexible platform for varied charitable action, but could also reflect broad reporting categories rather than active local programmes in every area.
Why it matters
The gap between declared scope and evidenced delivery is important: identifying its active priorities would clarify where it has distinctive capability and where potential partnerships are realistic.
Show evidence
“Makes Grants To Individuals, Makes Grants To Organisations, Provides Human Resources, Provides Buildings/facilities/open Space, Provides Services.”
Source:Charity Commission“General Charitable Purposes, Education/training, Disability, The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty, Overseas Aid/famine Relief, Religious Activities, Environment/conservation/heritage, Human Rights/religious Or Racial Harmony/equality Or Diversity, Recreation.”
Source:Charity Commission
- Which community organisations use the premises, and whether these relationships create referrals, joint activity or merely room hire.
- How pastoral outreach is delivered, who receives it and whether it reaches people beyond the congregation.
- Which reported charitable purposes, grants and services are currently active and locally significant.
Remaining uncertainties
- A current timetable and list of regular building users, including the purpose and reach of each group.
- Examples and scale of pastoral care, grants, services and partnerships during the latest reporting year.
- Information on local priorities, referral pathways and the demographics of people supported.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
We are a welcoming and inclusive family church - part of the Methodist Church in Britain, offering on-site and outreach pastoral care to families, the elderly, the sick and the vulnerable. The church membership for 2024-25 is 160; the church premises are widely used throughout the week by church and local community organisations. Christian worship takes place every Friday and Sunday.
Charity objects
THE PURPOSES OF THE METHODIST CHURCH ARE AND SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE BEEN SINCE THE DATE OF UNION THE ADVANCEMENT OF - (A) THE CHRISTIAN FAITH IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DOCTRINAL STANDARDS AND THE DISCIPLINE OF THE METHODIST CHURCH; (B) ANY CHARITABLE PURPOSE FOR THE TIME BEING OF ANY CONNEXIONAL, DISTRICT, CIRCUIT, LOCAL OR OTHER ORGANISATION OF THE METHODIST CHURCH; (C) ANY CHARITABLE PURPOSE FOR THE TIME BEING OF ANY SOCIETY OR INSTITUTION SUBSIDIARY OR ANCILLARY TO THE METHODIST CHURCH; (D) ANY PURPOSE FOR THE TIME BEING OF ANY CHARITY BEING A CHARITY SUBSIDIARY OR ANCILLARY TO THE METHODIST CHURCH.