Diocese of Masasi

Anglican Church of  Tanzania


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The Friends of Masasi Charitable Trust

The Friends of Masasi Charitable Trust was established shortly before his death by Father Ronnie Cox (who, under the auspices of the UMCA, worked as a missionary in Masasi for nearly 30 years and established a great rapport with the people of the Diocese).

The Friends was registered as a Charitable Trust in 1991 (Charity No. 1009963).  The accounts of the Trust and the Annual Reports are available on the Charity Commissioner website – www.charitycommission.gov.uk.
 

The aims of the Friends of Masasi are :

  1. To provide funds to assist the Church of England with its missionary activities in the Diocese of Masasi

  2. To carry out such other legally charitable purposes for the relief of poverty, the advancement of education or the provision of health care in the said Diocese as the Trustees shall from time to time by deed or deeds executed with their unanimous consent declare.

Since its inception the Trust has given significant financial support to the Diocese.   During the past five years the Trust has sent a total of well over £100,000 directly to the Diocese and over £20,000 to the Rondo.  These funds, often donated for specific purposes have helped the Diocese in a variety of ways, including aid for famine relief, support for the Dispensaries and buildings, equipment and salaries at the Rondo.  They have also enabled the Diocese to build and equip St Anne’s Rest House at Mtandi.  This is very well appointed and furnished and has proved invaluable in enabling an increasing number of people to visit the Diocese for extended periods.  

The Trust also acted as an intermediary for the collection of funds (amounting to well over £20,000) for the Motorcycles for Masasi project run by Revd Tim Brooke. 

In addition, in 2005 the Trust was able to provide the Bishop with a new Diesel Defender Landrover, with all the modifications necessary for use in Africa + over £2,500 worth of spare parts. 

The Trust has also supported one of the Sisters from Maila Sita, through Higher Education enabling her to qualify as a Primary School Teacher.,

Initially the Friends’ only income was from interest on the invested capital and a few Covenants, but the Trust has been able to benefit from the simplified guidelines on charity giving and consequently is able to claim tax relief on many of the donations it receives, which has greatly improved its financial status.

There are currently five trustees –

  • Shirley Talbot (who worked at Mkomaindo Hospital and who has extensive knowledge of the people and the area)

  • Gill Hucker and Ted Pinsent (who are both members of the congregation of what was Ronnie Cox’s parish from 1972-1988 – St Peter and St Paul, Ermington, Devon)

  • Jill Thompson (who also worked in Masasi, as Bishop Trevor’s secretary, and therefore, like Shirley, has firsthand knowledge of the Diocese), and last, but not least

  • Father Richard Norgate, former Bishop of the Diocese who is now living in retirement at the Rondo.  

None of the Trustees receive any payments or accept any expenses for the work they carry out on behalf of the Trust and consequently the entire income of the Trust (apart from the cost of producing and mailing “Masasi News”) goes to the Diocese of Masasi.

Many people who support the Diocese make donations via the Trust, to gain the advantage of the tax rebate and if donors wish to specify how this money should be used, the Trust will, of course, comply with their wishes.   However, most donations go initially into the Trust’s General Fund and, where appropriate are “earmarked” for specific causes.  The Trust’s capital earns tax-free interest and then, when the Bishop asks for support for specific projects, the Trust responds to the best of its ability.

We feel it is important to reiterate that the Trust was set up with very specific aims and the Trustees believe that they have a responsibility to support the Diocese as Father Cox would have wished them to do. 

If you would like any further information on the Friends of Masasi, please do not hesitate to contact one of the Trustees.

After Father Cox left Masasi he enjoyed 15 happy years as Vicar of the Parish of St Peter and St Paul in Ermington, where he never tired of talking about his beloved Masasi!  As a result of this a bond grew up between Ermington and the Diocese, several parishioners made return visits to Masasi with Ronnie and he welcomed many visitors from Masasi to Ermington.