On this page - please read on:
- The costs of running the Church
- Gift Aid
- Standing Orders
- Legacies
Linked Pages
Useful Forms
The costs of running our parish Church, its ministry and maintaining its buildings, is around £65,000 a year, or over £1,250 a week. Principally this is financed in a number of ways: Collections at the services; Regular giving on a weekly, monthly or annual basis by Standing Orders; Fees from Rites of Passage [details of which are available on request]; Collections during Rites of Passage services; Legacies; Congregation-led fund raising activities e.g. rummage sales, Harvest Supper, the 100 Club etc; Ad hoc donations in memory of a special person or event. Click on Report for a copy of the Report including the Accounts. We are proud that we have consistently paid our Parish Share [2010, £41,042] to the Diocese, but are not complacent in our fund raising efforts as there is always more to be done! During the early part of 2011, over £12,000 was spent on re-roofing and replacing the very old windows of the Community Hall - an essential part of the Church and used by over 20 organisations.
Gift Aid is a no nonsense simple and tax efficient way of supporting the Church, and can be used whether donating weekly in the Church or by Standing Order. Taxpayers are able to increase their giving by 25% i.e. 25p in every £, at no extra cost to themselves. This provides an important source of income for the Church. Whether each Sunday [using the Gift Aid envelope] or by Standing Order it simply requires a signature confirming that the donor is a taxpayer. This is extracted from HMRC's website: "The Gift Aid scheme is for gifts of money by individuals who pay UK tax. Gift Aid donations are regarded as having basic rate tax deducted by the donor. Charities take your donation - which is money you've already paid tax on - and reclaim the basic rate tax from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) on its 'gross' equivalent - the amount before basic rate tax was deducted. Basic rate tax is 20 per cent, so this means that if you give £10 using Gift Aid, it's worth £12.50 to the charity." Gift Aid envelopes are provided in the pews [along with pens!] or download a Gift Aid Form
Standing Orders assist with the forecast of income as well as ensuring a degree of continuity of funding. If this is of interest then please download a form. Please remember to complete also a Gift Aid Certificate if you are a taxpayer.
Everything comes from God
Two passages from the Old Testament teach us that everything that we have is given to us by God.
In his old age, King David organised a huge collection to fund the building of the new temple by the next generation "Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you have already given us! We are here for only a moment, visitors and strangers in the land as our ancestors were before us. Our days on earth are like a shadow, gone so soon without a trace. O Lord our God, even these materials that we have gathered to build a temple to honour your holy name come from you! It all belongs to you!" 1 Chron 29, 14-16
Job said (1, 21) "I came naked from my mother's womb, and I will be stripped of everything when I die. The Lord gave me everything I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!"
Responding to God's Generosity
Making a will, and keeping it reasonably up-to-date, makes good financial sense for your family, friends and dependents as well as your own peace of mind. As Christians, the Bible teaches us about God's overwhelming generosity to each one of us, especially in the gift of Jesus. God provides all our wealth and possessions on loan, and expects us to enjoy them and be generous to others, particularly our families and those more needy than ourselves. "Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren" Prov 13, 22. Jesus taught us: "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matt 6, 19-21.
Many Christians give regularly to support the work of the Church, as well as to other charities and mission organisations. The Bible teaches us to give proportionately, generously and cheerfully. All of our wealth comes from God, and so we have the opportunity in making a will to give back to God a thank offering for the way that He has blessed us.
How Legacies make a real difference to the Church
Over the centuries, generous Church members have left gifts to their local churches in their wills. These gifts have often been transformational in helping their parish in its mission and in continuing to play its part in the unfolding Christian story of our country.
One parish received a legacy of £37,000. They used it to launch an appeal to build a new church centre to provide much-needed community facilities, and eventually raised over £650,000.
Very often legacies are able to provide the initial funding that will unlock the generosity of others, both individual donors and trust funders.
Another church used a legacy to employ a children's and youth worker to work with local youngsters. Having a dedicated worker made a real difference to their ministry with young people. Yet a third parish needed a new heating system to replace the one that blew up. It would cost £18,000 but the parish had very little in reserve. Then a legacy of £20,000 was left to them, and as well as replacing the heating system, the church path and steps were also repaired.
All these legacies have provided an ongoing opportunity to develop parish mission, as well as creating a lasting memorial for those who gave them.
Over the past year, Christ Church has spent a considerable sum of money - over £13,500 - repairing the roof and redecorating the interior of the Community Hall. Used by over 24 local organisations, the Hall plays a vital role in providing facilities not only for the Church but also for the local community. In the long term, with funding, it is hoped to expand the facilities by providing new toilets, a kitchen and office space. For further details of how we fund the cost of maintaining Christ Church and meeting our other financial commitments, please read the Annual Report and Financial Statements.
Your legacy could make a difference. Find out more about how you can make or revise your will and leave a gift to the Church by clicking on the links at the top of this page.