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Status
Received: on time
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Income
£12.6K
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Spending
£6.7K
Public benefits
All of the Society’s purposes are for public benefit. The purpose of collecting and preserving Methodist historical materials with the aim of ensuring their current long-term survival for the use of present and future generations is for the benefit of the public at large. The purpose of maintaining the largest repository of Irish Methodist archival
material in the island of Ireland including unique manuscript collections of Irish Methodist publications and periodicals extending over 200 years, promotes the advancement of education and is of significant benefit to researchers and students alike. The collection of official records which reflect the life and history of the Methodist Church in Ireland promotes the advancement of arts, culture and heritage to students and researchers of Irish Methodist History. It is of particular interest to those interested in genealogical research. The purpose of promoting lectures, conferences and pilgrimages advances interest in and the knowledge of the history of Irish Methodism to academics and the wider public. The publication the Society’s Bulletin and its placement in the libraries of every Irish university as well as academic libraries in USA and Australia along with the Legal Deposit Libraries of UK and Ireland, ensures a wide-reaching readership. Encouragement to join the Society and to make donations to support the work/research carried out ensures funding to allow continuation of the acquisition, preservation and accessibility of the contents of the Society’s repository for generations to come. The maintenance of an active Website ensures a world-wide interest in the interests, activities and publications of the Society and is for extended public benefit. Members of the public along with society members regularly use the Society's facilities at Edgehill College for academic and genealogical research. Public lectures and the annual Pilgrimage are well-attended. There is a high-level of traffic using the website There is no harm flowing from the purposes of the Society.
... [more] [less]What your organisation does
The Society undertakes the collection and preservation of Irish Methodist historical materials by acquiring materials and records from local churches and private individuals. These items are then cleaned, destructive objects (eg metal tags and paper clips, insects etc) are removed, and the items are placed in acid-free folders and boxes which are
then stored in conditions of optimum humidity and temperature. Damaged items may be repaired or, in the case of diaries, journals and publications, rebound. The items are then catalogued and made accessible via the website where they are available to researchers both locally and world-wide. The valuable library of Methodist Periodicals is currently being indexed and index cards are available for reference in the Society’s reading room. The ever-expanding archives of the Society has become a major focus for those pursuing Methodist studies in Ireland and overseas. The maintenance of the Website has been vital in promoting the work of the Society. New material is constantly being catalogued and uploaded to the site. In terms of queries and requests for historical and genealogical information, the fastest growing usage is by online visitors. The Society holds two lectures per year, one in Belfast and one in Dublin. These lectures are given by an acknowledged authority on Irish Methodist history and are well- attended by audiences with a wide range of interests. The publication of the Society’s annual Bulletin involves the inclusion of papers and articles from leading Methodist historians and scholars from Ireland and around the world. The annual Pilgrimage visits a number of churches on a particular Circuit thus increasing the knowledge of Methodist history both locally and across the island of Ireland. Archives and library tours are available for genealogical and other interest groups. All of the above activities contribute to: 1. The advancement of education. 2 The advancement of arts, culture and heritage.
... [more] [less]The charity’s classifications
- The advancement of education
- The advancement of the arts, culture, heritage or science
Who the charity helps
- General public
How the charity works
- Advice/advocacy/information
- Cultural
- Education/training
- Heritage/historical
- Research/evaluation
