What do you want to know?
Here are some Frequently Asked Questions about the Freeland Community Hub project, alongside our answers.
Ask us a new question through the contact page, and we’ll add it to this list!
Who is leading this project?
The project is led by Freeland Community Hub (FCH), a not-for-profit, community-led organisation formed to acquire, restore, and repurpose the Freeland Methodist Church (or ‘Chapel’, as we call it) for the benefit of the local community.
What is the legal status of FCH?
Freeland Community Hub (FCH) is registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) as a Charitable Community Benefit Society under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014, registration no. 9627 with effect from 10 October 2025, and with HMRC as an exempt charity number ZD49515.
Does FCH have the skills and experience to run this project?
There are over 100 community pubs/ cafés around the country – so projects like this are well-proven and well-supported. The FCH Board also has a lot of relevant experience and is being advised by specialists, including existing hospitality business owners. It’s also being supported through advice and financial support from sector specialists including Plunkett UK.
Why does this project matter to the community?
There is strong community support to retain the building for communal use rather than see it lost to private residential development (which has already been refused twice, the second time under appeal). Survey responses indicate 75% of residents support a café/shop model, and 65% support a café/community space. The building has deep historic significance and is the oldest Methodist chapel in the Witney circuit.
What is the vision for the building?
A series of community consultations in November last year helped to guide FCH and the architect, Maya Ellis, in their plans. Our broad vision is to restore the Chapel and bring it back into community use as a daytime café also selling a few provisions and flexible community space, with the potential to expand further into a shop or other services based on local demand in time. The building will remain in community ownership.
How will the project be run?
The proposed operating model includes the tenant with hospitality experience to manage the café, and the community space managed by a volunteer-led committee. FCH also retains the flexibility to adjust this model over time—including volunteer-run options or expansion to other uses.
How was the café tenant selected?
The Board put together a set of requirements for the tenancy, to make sure it could find a tenant which would be the best fit for the community. This involved interviewing potential tenants and assessing their business plans against the FCH criteria. A panel of Board members made the final selection. The successful application from Donna Byrom of the Oxfordshire Yeoman Pub was found to complement the existing social provision within the heart of the community.
Will FCH have enough money?
So far, FCH has managed to raise the ~£165.000 needed to buy the Chapel, and has secured £78,000 of the £210,000 required to renovate it. That’s pretty good going from share purchases and donations from community, local business and councils alone. The next big push is to apply for grants and other bursaries, and well as support a wide range of community fundraising efforts underway.Keep checking the news page for updates on these…