Epsom United Reformed Church

Finance and General Purposes Committee

STRUCTURE
This Committee has nine members including, ex officio, the Minister, and it meets approximately every six weeks.  It reports to the Church Meeting and works closely with the Elders to ensure that matters within its area of responsibility fit in with the leadership of the Elders and in accordance with the wishes of the Church Meeting.

PURPOSE
As the name suggests, the F&GPC, as it is known, is responsible for the finances of the Church in a general sense with detailed input from the Treasurer, who looks after the accounts and is a member of the committee.  It also is responsible for the buildings of the church, i.e., the main Church and Longhurst Room, Unity Hall, and other property owned by the Church.  Together with Ewell URC it is responsible for the Minister's Manse.  The work in connection with these properties is concerned with repairs, redecoration, heating and lighting, letting and insurance, and, of course, any other matters such as Health and Safety also come within the duties of the committee.

UNITY HALL
In recent years the committee has had the responsibility for building a new Church Hall to be attached to the rear of the Church, and the background of this makes an interesting story, about which surfers of this site might like to know.

The land behind the Church at one time held stables and a stable yard, and when these were closed down some twenty years ago, the Church was able to buy the land.  Subsequently, part of the land was sold off for housing, but sufficient was retained for the building of a hall if ever the money - and planning permission - became available.  At this time the Church operated a hall in Upper High Street, in Epsom; this was known as the Lecture Hall, the land for which had been donated in 1880.

On 7th October, 1990, the Lecture Hall was burned down by vandals, and in order to provide a hall for the youth groups attached to the church, efforts were made to sell the site to property developers.  Unfortunately, at that time the deal fell through and, in any event, planning permission for a permanent hall on the Stables site was proving difficult.  The only solution was to provide a temporary hall on the site, the money for which came from a legacy; for this, fortunately, planning permission was granted.

The breakthrough came in 1996 with plans to build multiplex cinema in Upper High Street.  This was to be built on the combined sites of the Lecture Hall and the adjoining supermarket which had recently closed.  After long negotiations a sale was agreed, and this time planning permission was granted for a full-size (i.e., badminton-sized!) hall to be built on the Stables site at the rear of the Church.

Planning within the Church began in 1997, and continued in earnest in 1998/99 as architects and all the other parties to such a big project were appointed and commenced their various commissions.  Further problems were experienced with details of the planning consent and design, but eventually all was well, and work began in 2000.

The hall was opened on 31st March 2001, and was named 'Unity Hall'.  It is hoped that Unity Hall will be an asset to both the Church and the people of Epsom, and will bring people not normally associated with the Church into contact, as well as providing excellent facilities for Church activities.

THE FUTURE
Now Unity Hall is complete, the work and opportunities has really begun!  The F&GPC is very much involved in the ongoing uses to which Unity Hall will be put, including outside lettings, and co-ordinating the times of all Church activities which take place there.  The Hall must be maintained to a high standard and be cleaned regularly, and hopefully this can be managed without putting a strain on the Church budget.

The committee will, of course, continue with all other tasks to ensure that, as far, as possible, the finances and fabric of the Church are well maintained, and are ready to support the Elders and Church Meeting in their efforts to develop worship and associated activities.

For more on Unity Hall see Premises.

Click here to contact the F&GPC, for hiring any of the Church premises.