People give to churches for a variety of reasons, including:

• Expressing faith: Tithing, or giving back a tenth of one’s earnings, is a Biblical practice that some see as a way to express faith. 
• Supporting the church’s work: Churches rely on donations to fund programs, food pantries, and other activities. 
• Responding to God’s gifts: Stewardship is the idea that all people have gifts from God and should use them to help achieve God’s purposes. 
• Living a generous Christian lifestyle: Generosity can touch others and show compassion for those in need. 
• Supporting the community: The church can help care for the needy and the community as a whole

We really appreciate your generous donations to our churches and so we take this opportunity to say a big THANK YOU! Your donations enable us to continue to give to other charities, work with families in need and to provide interactive activities throughout the year and many many other ventures. Donations can be given on-site or by leaving a legacy

Each church in the Waltham Group needs financial help to enable these beautiful historic buildings to remain open and to provide a safe place to gather for events and for worship.

Various ways to give:

Cash – by a plate that is often available at the rear of the church

Contactless machine – Many of us carry very little if any cash, so we have provided in some of our churches a contactless way of donating to the church

Parish Giving Scheme (PGS)/Direct Debit – This is a way to ensure that the church receives a regular donation and you can often add to you donation by ticking ‘Gift Aid’ if you are a UK tax payer. If a donor wishes to make a regular net contribution to the Church of £100, the Church can recover tax at the basic rate (20%) from HMRC. The gift is then worth £125!!!

More about the Parish giving Scheme here: https://www.parishgiving.org.uk/home/

Leaving a legacy – Leaving a legacy to a church is a way to support the church’s mission and ministry, and can be a lasting expression of gratitude to God. A legacy can be left in the form of money, property, or an item in a will. 

Here are some reasons why leaving a legacy to a church can be a good idea:

• Support the church: A legacy can help keep the church alive and transform its future. It can fund mission projects, maintain church buildings, and grow the church community. 
• Express gratitude: A legacy can be a way to express gratitude and thanksgiving to God for all that has been given and enjoyed during life. 
• Make a lasting gift: A legacy can be a final opportunity to make a lasting gift to God. 
• Tax exemption: Gifts in wills to charities are exempt from inheritance tax. 

Here are some tips for leaving a legacy to a church:

• Consider talking to your church about their plans and what they might need. 
• Consider leaving a gift for the general purposes of the church so that it can help more people. 
• Appoint a professional advisor, such as a solicitor, to help with the process. 
• Assess the value of your estate. 
• Choose an executor to ensure your wishes are carried out. 
• Keep your will up to date and safe