Trust Property Held For Ecclesiastical Purposes In Connexion With The Church Of England
Charity 217492
Overview
Summary
The available evidence suggests this is a dormant Church of England property-holding charity rather than an operating church or service provider. Its stated purpose is broad religious charitable benefit, but its former financial mechanism—dividend income from now-sold COIF shares—has ended. The supplied website appears to describe an active Anglican parish in Selly Oak/Selly Park, creating an important attribution question: the charity may be historically, legally or locally connected to that parish, but the evidence does not establish that they are the same operating entity.
Operational geography
Coverage: Neighbourhood
Operational areas:
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Remaining uncertainties
- The Charity Commission record for charity 217492 states that it is no longer in operation: its former activity related to dividend income from COIF shares which have been sold. There is therefore no direct evidence of any current service delivery, physical operational site, partnership-delivered activity, or active geographic footprint for this charity.
- The supplied website is for St Stephen's and St Wulstan's Church, but identifies itself as registered charity 1135051, not charity 217492. Although it uses the same parish-office contact address as charity 217492, this does not establish that the church's current services or buildings are operated by, or attributable to, charity 217492.
- The required coverage categories do not include an inactive or no-current-coverage option. 'Neighbourhood' is used only as the least misleading forced classification in the absence of a suitable inactive category; it should not be interpreted as evidence of current neighbourhood operations.
Additional evidence needed
- Confirmation from the Charity Commission, trustees, or the relevant Church of England parish/diocese of whether charity 217492 retains any active role, assets, commitments, or geographic area of benefit.
- Documentary evidence establishing any current legal or operational relationship between charity 217492 and the Parochial Church Council of St Stephen's and St Wulstan's, registered charity 1135051.
- If such a relationship exists, current records identifying which activities, sites, and partnerships are funded or delivered through charity 217492 rather than through charity 1135051.
Areas of work
- Religious Activities
Who they help
- The General Public/mankind
How they help
- Provides Other Finance
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
A dormant financial vehicle, not an active delivery organisation
The charity appears to have functioned principally as a holder of investment assets whose income supported religious charitable purposes. With those shares sold and activity ended, it does not currently appear to deliver services or grants.
Why it matters
This distinguishes the charity from an active congregation or community organisation and suggests that its current civic role may be residual, awaiting closure, transfer, reactivation or a new use for any remaining assets.
Show evidence
“No longer in operation (used to relate to dividend income from COIF shares which have now been sold).”
Source:Charity Commission“Provides Other Finance.”
Source:Charity Commission
Its charitable purpose is broad but geographically bounded
The organisation was designed to support Church of England religious purposes within an unspecified area of benefit, rather than a narrowly defined programme or population.
Why it matters
Broad objects can enable flexible local support, but the missing area definition makes it difficult to identify its intended beneficiaries, historic relationships or potential successors.
Show evidence
“FOR RELIGIOUS CHARITABLE PURPOSES IN CONNEXION WITH THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND IN THE AREA OF BENEFIT.”
Source:Charity Commission“The General Public/mankind.”
Source:Charity Commission
The website creates a possible but unverified parish connection
The website indicates a living parish community with buildings, student engagement, Cantonese-language welcome and safeguarding arrangements. However, its registered charity number differs from the unnamed charity evidence, so it may represent a related but separate organisation.
Why it matters
Treating the website as this charity's activity would substantially overstate its current role. Clarifying the relationship could reveal whether dormant assets or historic property interests sit alongside an active local church network.
Show evidence
“An Anglican church in Selly Oak and Selly Park, Birmingham.”
Source:Organisation“Registered charity number 1135051.”
Source:Organisation“No longer in operation.”
Source:Charity Commission
- Whether the supplied website belongs to this charity, a successor body or a separate parish charity.
- What the area of benefit was and who received income before operations ceased.
- Whether any property, cash or governance responsibilities remain.
Remaining uncertainties
- The charity registration number, governing document, accounts and current register status.
- Evidence of links between the charity, St Stephen's and St Wulstan's, and the relevant Church of England bodies.
- A record of former grants, beneficiaries, assets and the decision to sell the COIF shares.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
No longer in operation (used to relate to dividend income from COIF shares which have now been sold).
Charity objects
FOR RELIGIOUS CHARITABLE PURPOSES IN CONNEXION WITH THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND IN THE AREA OF BENEFIT.