Charity Links & Mission Giving
The Abbey Tea Rooms
The Abbey Tea Rooms is run entirely by volunteers, over 100 in all, from Dorchester and neighbouring villages, who give unstintingly of their time, whether it be as cake makers, teapot ladies, washers-up or servers. All profits (over £28,000 in 2024) are paid into the Abbey’s General Fund and over £10,500 goes to charitable causes world-wide, and the rest to the maintenance of the Guest House and Abbey.
We also let about 6 charities a year run the tea room on our behalf and take all the proceeds (with a small deduction for tea/coffee/heating). If your charity is interested, please contact Steph Forman : steph@forman.org.uk
Dorchester Festival
The biennial Dorchester-on-Thames Festival attracts over 5,000 people, from serious followers of the arts to schools, families and children of all ages and has raised significant profile and over £250,000 for Dorchester Abbey and local charities. For 2024 we were proud to support Restore raising over £33,000 for their work supporting people with mental health issues back into the workplace
Read more about the Festival and the charities we have supported here.
2023 Mission Giving
Category 1: larger Christian organisations which the Parish has supported over many years:
CMS, Church Army and USP
Category 2: charities with a particular local connection, split between those requested by congregation members or Tea Room helpers:
Sobell House, Helen & Douglas House, Dementia UK
Category 3: charities recommended by a Tea Room helper or congregant because they have been particularly helpful to a family member or have a particular need:
Read Easy Oxford, The Berinsfield Day Centre, HomeStart Didcot, Dorchester School PTA, Womens’ Refuge, The Berin Centre
Other charities receive donations from special collections at services, from fundraising events and in response to emergency situations.
