Stewardship - giving to the church

Why do we give?

    • First of all, it is a natural response to our experience of the love of God.
    • Second, as an expression of our commitment to the community of His church to which we belong.
    • Third, because it enables the work of the Church which serves our community and the wider mission of the love of God. Without our financial support, this cannot continue.

70% of St Swithun's' income is from voluntary giving, and the associated tax rebates. We must nurture and grow our commitment to supporting its work financially so that the church will have a future.

This page tells you about the following:

    • What we spend and how we finance it

    • What the Bible says about giving   

    • What can I afford to give?   

    • Options for regular giving   

    • Giving by legacy   

    • My Pledge

    • How you can add donations to the church when you shop online

What we spend and how we finance it

Our church income and outgoings:

Based on St Swithun’s 2015 accounts. Total income and spending are both circa £210,000.

*Parish contribution is paid to the Diocese to finance salary and pension for our stipendiary clergy, as well as training costs and other spending that the Diocese makes mainly on our behalf.

What the Bible says about giving   

Proverbs 3:9 – (NIV) Honour the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops

Luke 6:38 – (NIV) Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

2 Corinthians 8:7 (NIV) - But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you —see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 – (NIV) Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

What can I afford to give? 

    • £12-15 is the cost of a visit to Costa for two.
    • £45-50 a month is the cost of a contract for a new iPhone 7 or for a Sky TV subscription.
    • £45 a week is the average UK household spending on meals out and hotels.
    • £100 is about the cost of a night out for 2, or half the monthly payments on a new small car....
    • ....but also a sixth of the full monthly state pension and a third of jobseeker’s allowance.

A question to ask myself:

What alternatives are there which would allow me to divert some of my spending so I can make a regular giving commitment to my church and to other causes I treasure?

Options for regular giving 

Easyfundraising - when you shop online hundreds of stores will give a donation to your chosen charity at no cost to you!

Sign up today and start adding donations to St Swithun's Church. Just click on the link below:

https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/stswithuneastgrinstead/?invite...

 

Parish Giving Scheme (PGS)

The most efficient and preferred way of giving via direct debit. The church receives your donation with Gift Aid added where appropriate.  There is an option to apply annual index linking. Collect a PGS pack from the back of the church or from the Confidential Giving Secretary johndmonks@aol.com

Payroll Giving/ Give As You Earn

Many employers operate these schemes. You can nominate St Swithuns to received your donations. The donor receives any tax relief via PAYE rather than the church. Contact your employer if you wish to use this method and please advise the Confidential Giving Secretary johndmonks@aol.com

Bank Standing Order

Download a Mandate form  and give it to the Confidential Giving Secretary, John Monks , with a Gift Aid Declaration if you are a tax payer.

Weekly Giving envelopes

For regular giving by cash or cheque. You will be given a set of numbered envelopes to use each week which you can put in the collection plate.  Contact the Confidential Giving Secretary.

Options for occasional giving

Yellow Gift Aid Envelopes are available at the end of the pews. These are intended mainly for visitors. These must be marked with your full name, address and signature, and are only to be used by tax payers eligible for Gift Aid.

Collection plate: the traditional option for cash donations. The church is unable to reclaim all the tax you may have paid on donations made in this way.

Online donation: you can donate online by following this link.

Further information on Gift Aid is available from the GOV.UK website.

Giving by legacy   

After giving for many years you may feel that you would like this to continue after your death by leaving a legacy in your will.

You may already have a will. If you wish to avoid the cost of making a new one simply to make a gift to the church, then you can formally write to your executors expressing the wish that after your death they will give a certain sum to St Swithun’s PCC or the Restoration Trust.

This does not create a binding obligation but if your executors are your children and beneficiaries they are likely to honour it.

If you want to find out about this on the internet, then search for: Leaving a Legacy—Church

My Pledge

To make your pledge, please download and complete a pledge form.

To reconfirm your current pledge, please download and complete a form.

You can either deliver your pledge form to the Parish Office at St Swithun’s Church, or you can email it to  John Monks, Confidential Giving Secretary.