Ways to Give

Gifts can be made either on a regular basis or as a one-off donation.

Sometimes it may feel as if we cannot give because of everything else that we need to think about. Sometimes our financial situation does not allow us to give much, sometimes it may feel as if our generosity pales into insignificance against someone else’s, and sometimes it feels as if our generosity goes unnoticed.  But many small gifts can make a big difference. Or, as Martin Luther King Jr said: If I cannot do greater things, I can do small things in a great way.

Here is how you can support us financially:

 (1)       BY REGULAR GIVING – It makes a lot of difference to us if we know in advance how much money we can be sure of receiving each month. For a regular weekly, monthly or annual donation, there are two ways of giving:

  1. Planned Giving Scheme – You can join our Planned Giving Scheme through the Church of England’s Parish Giving Scheme by clicking on the button Please Donate, which will take you to the PGS website. Or you can set up a regular donation by calling the scheme on 0333 002 1271.  You will need your personal bank account details, our Parish Code: 160616317 and Parish Name: Fairford St Mary. The PGS will charge us a small percentage of your gift for administering the website. You can also choose whether you would like your gift to be inflation-linked.  And, if you are a tax payer, please could you fill in the Gift Aid form on the PGS website.
  2. Planned Online Giving via a bank transfer, by Standing Order, Direct Debit or a regular Fast Payment to our business account with Lloyds Bank. Our details are:
Name PCC Fairford
Sort Code 30-92-06
Business A/C Number 01193277

Gift Aid – If you are a UK taxpayer and eligible to Gift Aid your donation, please complete a declaration under the button Gift Aid Form.  This will increase our gift by 25p for every £1 given at no extra cost to you or us. Thank you!

 (2) BY A ONE OFF DONATION

(a)      For one-off donations, please visit the Parish Giving Scheme by clicking on Please Donate on the main menu bar and opt for a One-off Gift; or

(b)      arrange a payment by a direct transfer from your account to our PCC Fairford Account,  Sort Code 30-92-06, Account Number 01193277

(c)      when visiting our church, you can

(i)      leave a donation in the visitors box (and, if applicable, put it in a blue Gift Aid envelope, completed with your details); or

(ii)      leave a cash donation (in a blue Gift Aid envelope, if applicable) on the collection plate when attending a church service; or

(iii)     make an electronic donation via our card reader on the stewards desk.

The Goodbox contactless terminal on the steward’s desk

In recent years there has been a decline in the number of people carrying actual cash, thus making it difficult to receive donations from visitors and congregation.

In February 2020 the Goodbox was introduced to St Mary’s church and the Gift Aided donations have increased year by year. These donations help to keep the church open for visitors.

Please continue to support the work of St Mary’s by swiping your credit or debit card across the wireless symbol on the base of the device.

Available near the electronic reader are Gift Aid forms, should you be able to Gift Aid your donation. Please put these completed forms in the wooden donations box by the pillar.

(3)     BY LEAVING A LEGACY TO ST MARY’S IN YOUR WILL

If you wish to leave a legacy to our church, it must be set out clearly in a will. This makes it legally binding and will ensure your wishes are followed.

Any legacies left to individuals may be subject to inheritance tax, depending on your circumstances. Currently, inheritance tax is charged at 40%. However, legacies made to a registered charity, as St Mary’s is, are not subject to inheritance tax at all. This means that, if you have a high value estate and you leave the entire estate to charity, no inheritance tax will be charged. Many people are also unaware that, if you leave 10% of your estate to a registered charity, then doing so will reduce the rate of inheritance tax from 40% to 36%. This will benefit any individuals who are inheriting from your will.

 

Updated 2nd December 2024