Methodist Church, The

The Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes (TMCP) is the custodian trustee body for all property held on the Model Trusts of the Methodist Church in England, Wales and Scotland.

Under the terms of the Methodist Church Act 1976 any bequest on the Model Trusts (explicitly, or by implication in that a Methodist local church or circuit is mentioned without any further definition of the trusts) should be effected through TMCP. TMCP are also empowered to act as custodian trustees for Methodist capital with trusts more restricted than the full Model Trusts. Bequests to the Methodist Church may be for any of its charitable purposes.
Most bequests will be intended to benefit local churches and circuits, of which there are approximately 5600. In addition bequests may be made for the benefit of the main Methodist funds (The Mission in Britain Fund, the Methodist World Mission Fund, the Fund for Property and the Methodist Church Fund) or associated charities such as Methodist Homes for the Aged. These will be specific bequests which will require a different wording from those bequests which are to be held on the Model Trusts.
Alternatively a bequest may be for a specific purpose either of a local church, circuit or district or of one of the national Methodist charities.
The Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes (address as above) is able to supply specimen Will clauses to meet all possibilities, together with Precedents for sales, purchases, etc. of Methodist property.