History of the Village Hall

1824  … Original building constructed as Wesleyan Chapel.

1927  … 5th November – Land and (presumably) the building was conveyed to Rev. John Goodhall, the then Rector and others.

1927  … 24th November – creation of a trust to own and administer what was by then the Cherry Burton Parish Room for ‘social religious and reactional purposes’. The Rector and Church wardens were the trustees. The building was extended at about the same time. 

1928  … 22nd November – another parcel of land was conveyed to Rev. Goodall. There are no details about the land, in this or the 1930 transaction, but perhaps they comprised what is now the yard.

1930  … 12th April – another parcel of land was conveyed to Rev. Goodall.

1984  … New trustees were appointed by the Rector and Church wardens as all the old trustees appointed by the 1927 trust had died. The arrangement by which the trustees were appointed by the Parochial Church Council (and, it appears, others also nominated by the Parish Council) appears to have survived right up to the inception of the 2005 Scheme (see below). 

2004 … By this time, it was becoming clear that new accommodation or rebuilding would be necessary, and there were some additional factors:

  • It was reported at the AGM that the Diocese and Board of Finance were prepared to hand over the freehold of the site to the Village, as all the church-appointed trustees wanted to retire.
  • St. Michael’s Church had, by this time acquired its present hall so the village hall was no longer required for purposes connected with the Church.
  • Another motivation appears to have been that the existing structures of ownership and governance were archaic and not suitable to underpin any application for grants etc. that were contemplated at about this time, in connection with the possible rebuilding or replacement of the Hall.

2005 … A new scheme for ownership and governance was created by the trustees and became effective on 14th October. The main provisions were that:

  • Cherry Burton Village Hall became a registered charity. The object of the charity is the provision and maintenance of a village hall for the use by the inhabitants of the area of benefit without distinction of political, religious, or other opinions, including use for:
    • Meetings, lectures and classes, and
    • Other forms of recreation and leisure-time occupation. With the object of improving the conditions of life for the inhabitants.
  • The title to the land is held by the Official Custodian in trust for the charity.
  • The charity is governed by its committee. Their powers are provided under the 2005 Scheme.

2006 … 9th February – First AGM under the new scheme.

AGMs continue to the present day.