1.0 TITLE
1.1 The name of the Association shall be the Friends of St. John the Baptist Church Hope Bagot (hereinafter called the Association).
2.0 AIMS
2.1 The Association is set up to assist the Hope Bagot Parochial Church Council and any person or body in which the Parish Church of St. John the Baptist Hope Bagot (hereinafter called the Church) is vested from time to time in maintaining repairing and preserving the Church and its churchyard and the goods and ornaments of the Church and churchyard.
2.2 In furtherance of the aims of the Association it may do all such lawful things as are necessary for the attainment of the aims.
2.3 It is understood that the said Parochial Church Council or owner being the body or person responsible for the care maintenance and insurance of the fabric of the church and its churchyard goods and ornaments must have the ultimate control of all works done in relation to these matters.
3.0 MEMBERSHIP
3.1 Application for Membership shall be made to and approved by the Board of Trustees (hereinafter called the Trustees).
3.2 Individual Membership shall be open to any individual over the age of 18.  All individual Members are entitled to vote.
3.3 Associate Membership shall be open to any individual aged 17 or under.  An Associate Member shall not be entitled to vote.
3.4 Institutional Membership shall be open to any federation corporation or association.  Such Membership will provide entitlement to full benefits with two representatives entitled to participate and to vote at meetings.
3.5 The Secretary shall notify the Annual General Meeting of new Members.
3.6 The Annual General Meeting may elect honorary Members who shall be entitled to all the privileges of full members.
3.7 The Association may elect a Patron with a non-voting capacity who would be invited to the Annual General Meeting.
4.0 OFFICERS
4.1 The Association may have a President to be elected annually by the Annual General Meeting.
4.2 The Association shall have Trustees Secretary and Treasurer to be appointed annually by the Annual General Meeting.  Any appointment needed during the year to fill a vacancy may be made by the Trustees.
5.0 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE MEMBERSHIP
5.1 There shall be an Annual General Meeting held not later than 31st October in each year for which at least 21 days prior notice shall be provided to all members together with an agenda.  The first Annual General Meeting may be held at any time before 31st October 2004.
5.2 The President or in his absence the Chairman shall preside at the Annual General Meeting.  In the absence of both the Members shall elect a Chairman for presiding at that Meeting.
5.3 A quorum shall be the presiding Chairman plus one Trustee and three ordinary members.
5.4 The business of the Annual General Meeting shall include reports from the Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer and shall also include:-

5.5 Reporting Officers unable to attend shall submit a written report to the Chairman or Secretary prior to the Meeting.
5.6 Each member present shall have one vote in connection with each motion put before the Meeting.  A resolution will require a simple majority.  In the event of a tie the Chairman shall have the casting vote.  All votes shall be taken by a show of hands unless the Meeting resolves otherwise.
5.7 The Association may affiliate with other organisations upon agreement of the Meeting.
6.0 BOARD OF TRUSTEES
6.1 The Board of Trustees shall consist up to five Members as elected at the Annual General Meeting and shall elect a Chairman from among their number.  Any appointment needed during the year to fill a vacancy may be made by the Trustees.
6.2 The Trustees may appoint sub-committees as and when necessary and shall devise their rules for working.
6.3 All sub-committees shall report to the Trustees.
7.0 FINANCE
7.1 The Trustees shall set the subscription for the coming year.  Subscriptions should be paid not later than 3 months after the date of the Annual General Meeting.
7.2 Membership shall have deemed to have lapsed should any Member's subscription not be paid within 6 months of the date of the Annual General Meeting unless good reason be provided to the satisfaction of the Trustees.
7.3 The Association's accounts shall run from 6th April each year.  The first year will end on 5th April 2004.
7.4 All monies shall be administered by the Treasurer who will pay incoming monies into a bank or building society account in the name of the Association and shall arrange in consultation with the Trustees for the proper investment of any available balance.  The Treasurer will account to the Trustees for all monies.
7.5 Any withdrawals from a bank or building society shall be against two signatures being the signatures of either any two Members of the Board of Trustees or of a Member of the Board and an Officer.
7.6 Travel expenses shall not normally be available for Officers or Trustees but only in special circumstances by advance application to and agreement by the Treasurer.  Advance notification of other expenses likely to be incurred by Members in connection with the work of the Trustees or sub-committees shall be made to the Treasurer for approval who will recompense the approved amounts to Members upon their application with receipts.
7.7 The Treasurer shall prepare financial forecasts of the Association's income and expenditure to be presented to the Annual General Meeting.
8.0 ALTERATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION
8.1 Any proposal to alter the constitution must be approved at an Annual General Meeting.  Such a proposal shall be accompanied by a copy of the relevant part of the existing Constitution and a copy of the amendments.
9.0 TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP
9.1 If the actions of any Member shall in the opinion of the Trustees be injurious to the interests of the Association the Trustees are empowered to suspend that Member.
9.2 Termination of membership shall be by resolution passed at the Annual General Meeting by a two third majority of those present and voting.
10.0 DISSOLUTION OF THE ASSOCIATION
10.1 The Association may be dissolved only at the Annual General Meeting or at a Special Meeting convened for the purpose of dissolution for which at least 21 days prior notice shall be provided.  The motion to dissolve must be carried by
three quarters of Members present and voting.
10.2 Before a vote for or against dissolution be taken the Meeting shall determine how the assets of the Association shall be disposed of in the event of the motion being carried.  Such assets must be applied for charitable purposes only.

This Constitution was formally adopted at a Meeting of the Members held on this the Eighteenth day of October 2003 at the Village Hall at Hope Bagot.

Signed by M. J. Hamlin, S. M. Cooper and A. de Charmant (Chesshire), the Trustees.
Registered Charity Number 1101421