The Parochial Church Council Of The Ecclesiastical Parish Of St Mary The Virgin, Pype Hayes, In The Diocese Of Birmingham
Charity 1213426
Overview
Summary
The available evidence suggests that this is a parish-based Church of England charity operating publicly through the Lighthouse Church identity at St. Mary’s Site in Pype Hayes. Its role appears broader than worship alone: it combines a formal mission to serve its ecclesiastical parish with a practical community-facing offer that includes services, facilities and grants. The organisation seems to use its site and welcome activity as key mechanisms for connection, while retaining the governance responsibilities of a parochial church council.
Operational geography
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Pype Hayes
Confidence: high
Direct evidence shows regular worship, children and youth activity, prayer activity, and a stay-and-play/clothing-resource service operating from the St Mary's site and hall. The organisation is expressly the PCC of St Mary the Virgin, Pype Hayes, and its official history identifies the site as serving the Pype Hayes housing estate. It is therefore well supported that its current operational base and principal service activity are in Pype Hayes.
- Lighthouse Church, Visit page — https://lighthouseonline.church/visit
Direct evidence: Lighthouse states that Sunday gatherings take place onsite and online, gives its location as Lighthouse Church, St Mary's Site, and describes children and youth groups operating during Sunday gatherings. - Lighthouse Church, Little Lights Stay & Play page — https://lighthouseonline.church/littlelights
Direct evidence: the church says Little Lights Stay & Play meets fortnightly at St Mary's Hall and provides free clothing and baby equipment for families with children aged 0–5. - Lighthouse Church, Prayer Pods page — https://lighthouseonline.church/prayerpods
Direct evidence: onsite prayer pods meet in the side chapel at the St Mary's site, with a prayer walk assembling outside the hall. - Lighthouse Church, Story So Far page — https://lighthouseonline.church/story
Direct evidence: the church describes the St Mary's building as having been established to serve the Pype Hayes housing estate. Reasonable interpretation: this, combined with the named parish and current site-based activities, supports Pype Hayes as the organisation's core neighbourhood. - Charity Commission register, charity 1213426 — https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/about-the-register-of-charities/-/charity-details/5259377/full-print
Direct evidence: the registered charity uses Lighthouse Church | St Mary's as its working name, gives a contact address, and the register records Birmingham City as its area of operation.
Remaining uncertainties
- The available evidence establishes one active physical hub in Pype Hayes, but does not provide a current, location-specific list of small groups, pastoral visits, prayer-walk routes, or other outreach activity beyond that hub.
- The charity's website describes an ambition to reach 'north of the city', while the Charity Commission records Birmingham City as its operating area. These statements do not by themselves demonstrate current delivery across North Birmingham or citywide, so the overall classification is based on evidenced operational activity rather than stated reach.
- Gas Street Church and Urban Devotion Birmingham are described as important to the church's formation and team-building. The evidence does not show that these relationships currently create jointly delivered Lighthouse services at other Birmingham locations.
- Some official website pages are undated. They describe ongoing activities, but current frequency and continuation of every listed group cannot be independently confirmed from published schedules.
Additional evidence needed
- A current annual report, APCM report, or service/impact report identifying where regular groups, outreach, pastoral work and venue users operate.
- A current programme calendar listing the locations of all small groups, Safe Harbour, HerStory, Alpha, Oasis and other activities.
- Evidence from Lighthouse Church or its named partners specifying any current jointly delivered projects, their venues, and the organisation's role in them.
- A current description of the ecclesiastical parish boundary and the geographic focus of outreach activity.
Areas of work
- Religious Activities
Who they help
- The General Public/mankind
How they help
- Makes Grants To Organisations
- Provides Buildings/facilities/open Space
- Provides Services
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
A formal parish body with a distinct public-facing identity
It appears that the legal charity operates as a parochial church council while presenting its activities to the public as Lighthouse Church. This may allow a historic parish institution to communicate through a more accessible, contemporary identity.
Why it matters
This distinction helps explain how the organisation may combine formal Church of England governance with a broader invitation to people who may not already identify with parish structures.
Show evidence
“The charity is named The Parochial Church Council Of The Ecclesiastical Parish Of St Mary The Virgin, Pype Hayes, In The Diocese Of Birmingham.”
Source:Charity Commission“The website identifies the organisation as Lighthouse Church at St. Mary’s Site, Tyburn Road, B24 0TB.”
Source:Organisation
The site may be a central civic asset, not only a worship venue
The organisation appears to combine religious activity with the provision of buildings, facilities, open space, services and grants. Its venue may therefore function as an important practical resource through which its mission is delivered.
Why it matters
This suggests that understanding the organisation requires looking beyond congregational activity to how access to space, services and resources may support local relationships and opportunities.
Show evidence
“The charity makes grants to organisations, provides buildings, facilities or open space, and provides services.”
Source:Charity Commission“The website includes venue hire.”
Source:Organisation
A parish mandate paired with an outward welcome
Although its charitable object is rooted in an ecclesiastical parish, the organisation appears to frame itself as welcoming both newcomers to Lighthouse and newcomers to Birmingham. This may indicate an orientation toward connection beyond an established membership base.
Why it matters
This creates a useful question about whether the organisation acts mainly as a neighbourhood parish institution, a city-facing church community, or a bridge between the two.
Show evidence
“The charity's object is promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the Church.”
Source:Charity Commission“The website welcomes people who are new to Lighthouse or new to Birmingham.”
Source:Organisation
- It is unclear how Lighthouse Church and the parochial church council are operationally connected.
- There is no evidence about the organisations receiving grants, the services provided, or the communities using the site.
- The scale of worship, community activity, partnerships and local reach is unknown.
Remaining uncertainties
- Annual reports, accounts and grant records showing activities, beneficiaries and expenditure.
- Information on venue users, partner organisations and regular community programmes.
- Governance documents explaining the relationship between Lighthouse Church and the parish charity.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
Charity objects
PROMOTING IN THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH THE WHOLE MISSION OF THE CHURCH.