EPWORTH OLD RECTORY (OPERATIONS)

Registered charity 1165387 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as EOR (OPS)

The Epworth Old Rectory is an Accredtied Museum that is open to the public to experience what it must have been like at the time the Wesley Family lived there and tells the story of this remarkable family which included John and Charles Wesley the founders of the Methodist Church. The house, which is an outstanding example of Queen Anne architecture, contains many artefacts to help tell the story.

Objects

THE OBJECTS OF THE CIO ARE 3.1 FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT TO ADVANCE EDUCATION BY THE ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF A MUSEUM AT THE HISTORIC BUILDING IDENTIFIED AS EPWORTH OLD RECTORY. THIS MUSEUM DEDICATED TO THE HISTORICAL AND RELIGIOUS IMPORTANCE OF THE WESLEY FAMILY AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON CONTEMPORARY METHODISM WORLDWIDE THE INFLUENCE OF THE WESLEY FAMILY ON FAITH, SOCIAL JUSTICE, WORLDWIDE METHODISM AND ALL PEOPLE TODAY, WHETHER THEY ARE OF ANY RELIGION OR NONE. 3.2 THIS OBJECT IS SUPPORTED BY 3.2.1 PRESERVING AND CARING FOR THE FABRIC OF THE HISTORIC BUILDING (GRADE 1 LISTED: EPWORTH OLD RECTORY, 1 RECTORY STREET, EPWORTH, LINCOLNSHIRE), THE SITE AND ITS IMMEDIATE SURROUNDINGS AND THE COLLECTIONS. 3.2.2 PROVIDING AN ENHANCED VISITOR EXPERIENCE AND MAKING EPWORTH OLD RECTORY ACCESSIBLE TO AS WIDE AN AUDIENCE AS POSSIBLE. 3.2.3 ENSURING THAT EPWORTH OLD RECTORY IS FINANCIALLY SECURE IN BOTH LONG AND SHORT TERMS. 3.3 PEOPLE WHO BENEFIT: THE GENERAL PUBLIC. 3.4 GEOGRAPHICAL LIMITS: WORLD WIDE.

The charity’s charitable objects and area of benefit, quoted from its governing document as held on the Charity Commission register.

Causes: Education/training · Religious Activities · Environment/conservation/heritage · website · Get email alerts

Registered contact address: North Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and The Humber, England (from the postcode on the register)

Latest income

£99k

Latest spending

£97k

Registered

2016

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The charity reported a net deficit of £6,740 for the year ended 31 December 2025, with total income of £98,816 and total expenditure of £96,675 (adjusted for stock). Unrestricted reserves stood at £36,377.85, which is below the stated policy target of £50,000 (half the annual turnover). The charity remains in partnership with the Methodist Church in Great Britain and the World Methodist Council, which provide significant core funding.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Largest income source: MCGB Core (51% of income)

“MCiGB Core 3 41950 43000 50567” — page 34

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Reserves position: below the charity's own stated reserves policy (held: £36k; policy: about half the annual turnover on this core work (i.e. £50,000))

“Since our unrestricted funds are less than the half the annual turnover, then our reserves are fully committed.” — page 13

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 4 of 6 completeness components.

Policies the charity declares

In its annual return the charity told the Commission that it has the policies listed below. This is self-declared: it is not verified by the Commission or by this site, and it is not evidence of how a policy works in practice.

Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
Complaints handling
Complaints policy and procedures
Financial reserves policy and procedures
Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
Internal risk management policy and procedures
Investing charity funds policy and procedures
Paying staff
Risk management
Safeguarding policy and procedures
Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
Trustee expenses policy and procedures
Volunteer management

Funders the charity credits

Named as funders/supporters on the charity’s own website (the charity’s claim, distinct from accounts-verified grants).

The Royal Society — “Funded by The Royal Society.” (source page)

Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): facebook

Trustees · trustee networks

Debbie MacDonaldchair
ANDREW BAMFORD · trustee of 2 other charities
Abbie King
Andrew David Steers
Daniel Elkington
Dr John Lambert · trustee of 4 other charities
REV STUART GUNSON BSC
Rev Vicki Atkinson
Rosanna Whittaker

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Lincolnshire · North Lincolnshire

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/12/2025	£99k	£97k
31/12/2024	£87k	£78k
31/12/2023	£147k	£79k
31/12/2022	£84k	£76k
31/12/2021	£80k	£137k

Common questions

Is EPWORTH OLD RECTORY (OPERATIONS) financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The charity reported a net deficit of £6,740 for the year ended 31 December 2025, with total income of £98,816 and total expenditure of £96,675 (adjusted for stock). Unrestricted reserves stood at £36,377.85, which is below the stated policy target of £50,000 (half the annual turnover). The charity remains in partnership with the Methodist Church in Great Britain and the World Methodist Council, which provide significant core funding. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.

Government & lottery funding

Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).

Funder	Date	Amount	Purpose
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	22/02/2024	£191k	"Out of the Box: unlocking collections at Epworth Old Rectory"