Church Plan: Financial Stewardship

How to join the Parish Giving Scheme

churchadmin2023-09-07T15:47:58+01:00

Christ Church is at the heart of it’s community, serving the needs of local people and acting as a central meeting place for a whole variety of community activities. Our mission is to proclaim Christ through teaching and example. Welcome and serve all, through hospitality. We encourage people to find God through worship, faith and prayer by providing a spiritual home and resources for the local community.

We rely on the gifts, goodwill and legacies of our friends in the community to continue this mission. If you are able, we value regular donations, although of course, gifts of any kind are greatfully received. Our preferred method for regular giving is the Parish Giving Scheme.

What is the Parish Giving Scheme?

The PGS is administered by the Church of England, at no cost to us, and provides a secure method for members to make regular donations to a Church of their choice.

Why is it better than Standing Order.

The PGS dramatically improves our cashflow and reduces our administration, enabling us to receive your donations and any gift aid claimable on them within the first week or so of each month.It also offers peace of mind that the Direct Debit Guarantee Scheme protects your gifts.

How do I join?

There are 2 easy ways to donate to Christ Church through the PGS; you can set up your Direct Debit online or by telephone. If you would like more information or help applying then please contact Stephen Grosvenor Gift Aid Secretary on stephen@christchurchswindon.co.uk or 07885 217077

Online

Click this link to go to our dedicated Parish Giving page https://www.parishgiving.org.uk/donors/find-your-parish/swindon-christchurch-st-mary-swindon/

By Telephone

Alternatively, you can set up your regular gift by phoning the PGS team on 0333 002 1271, Monday to Friday, 9-5. They will ask for our Parish Giving code which is Christ Church’s parish code is 050605176

If you’d like to know more, please get in touch with Stephen Grosvenor our Gift Aid Secretary stephen@Christchurchswindon.co.uk 01793 341034

Can you still claim Gift Aid on my gifts?

If you are a UK taxpayer, during the sign up process you will be asked if about Gift Aid. It adds a valuable additional 25% to your giving at no cost to you.

What happens if my circumstances change?

As a PGS member, you will receive a log in which will enable you to track your giving and make changes whenever you need to. You can make one-off additional donations at any time. The telephone service will help those without access to online services.

I want to help but I don’t really understand all this, can I get some help?

Of course, contact Stephen Grosvenor your Gift Aid Secretary in confidence, and he will be glad to help. Stephen@christchurchswindon.co.uk 07885 217077

How to join the Parish Giving Schemechurchadmin2023-09-07T15:47:58+01:00

Support our work in the Community

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We need your donations, more than ever, to support our work in the community. We don’t receive grants or subsidies from the Anglican church or Government. All the funds needed to keep our church and its work going are provided by regular donations, legacies and fundraising. Our congregation, Friends and supporters provide vital funds each year to ensure that the Church and its grounds are always available – whether it be for regular worship, weddings, funerals christenings, festivals, concerts or just quiet reflection. If you consider yourself part of our Community or value our contribution then please consider supporting us with either a regular donation,one-off gift or legacy.

Our preferred method for receiving, regular, donations is via the Church of England’s Parish Giving Scheme. These can be monthly, quarterly or annual gifts. The scheme manages all the administration of collection, gift aid claims ( if the giver is eligible as a regular tax payer) and greatly improves our cashflow by paying us monthly, as well as reducing our own administration. It’s easy to sign up – you can find our Parish page here on the PGS website

Other ways of Giving

You can also give by credit or debit card at our donation station at the back of church.

Check out our donation page for more ideas.

Support our work in the Communitychurchadmin2023-01-07T14:57:03+00:00

Invitation to give a Christmas present to Christ Church

churchadmin2022-12-09T20:04:29+00:00

We thank you for all your encouragement, prayers, practical help and financial giving to Christ Church and St Mary’s over this last year. By God’s grace we have seen much growth for which we thank God. However, financially it is likely that at the end of this year we will be running at a financial deficit of around £10,000. We are blessed to have financial reserves to meet this. However, we are asking whether you would be able to make a Christmas gift to Christ Church to help us to reach the New Year with a balanced budget, all being well. Please make cheques payable to Christ Church PCC or you can donate via our Just Giving page here

In saying this we are very aware of the financial pressure on so many people and understand if you are unable to do this. However, every little bit helps. Thank you gratefully in advance.

Thank you and every blessing for Advent and Christmas, Simon, Jim and Nitin Vicar and Church Wardens.

Invitation to give a Christmas present to Christ Churchchurchadmin2022-12-09T20:04:29+00:00

Our next Mission Giving Day

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Our Giving to WaterAid and Swindon and Gloucestershire Mind charities

Sunday 20^th November is our last mission giving day for 2022. All the money collected in the plate on that day be divided between WaterAid and Swindon and Gloucestershire Mind. If you are a UK tax payer please put your gift in a gift aid envelope which can be found at the back of the church. This enhances your gift by a further 25% at no cost to you. We will keep the collection open until Monday 28th November; please put any gift (after Sunday 20^th) into an Gift Aid envelope marked with an “M” so we know where it is to go.

We were able to send over £292 to both Ripple Effect and The Willows after our last mission giving Sunday.

Thank you very much for your continuing support.

Our next Mission Giving Daychurchadmin2022-11-11T13:00:46+00:00

Parish Giving Scheme

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The day to day work done by Christ Church to support our local community is funded by the generosity and commitment of our congregation and friends for which we are very grateful.

We joined the Parish Giving scheme 3 years ago to reduce the administration of our giving and donations, improve our cashflow and free up time for our volunteers to concentrate on doing more with the generosity that we recieve.

The PGS is run by the Church of England and enables our donors to:

Give securely to Christ Church with St Mary’s, either monthly, quarterly, or annually via Direct Debit
Where eligible,(if you are a UK taxpayer) enhance gifts by 25% by adding Gift Aid to gifts
Give anonymously if preferred.
The PGS simplifies the giving process for us by making the gift aid claims where applicable and paying our church regularly each month thus improving our cashflow and reducing our administration.

If you would like to support us and our work and would like to know more about the Parish Giving Scheme and how you can donate to us using it, Click here or watch a short video below about how the scheme works.

If you would like to know more or discuss other options for giving to support our work contact our Giving Secretary Stephen Grosvenor (07885 217077) or our Treasurer Andrew Yeoward

Parish Giving Schemechurchadmin2022-10-27T23:56:11+01:00

The 9th Old Town Beer Festival

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This year marks the return of our popular Beer Festival – bigger and better than ever. Started by a former curate Gareth Hutchinson, now rector for Desford and Kirby Muxloe in Leicestershire, the festival has gained increasing momentum under the watchful eye of Chris Smith our Community Development Manager.

We are regularly asked why a church should run such an event so it’s worth outlining why we do.

1. It brings many hundreds of people of all ages and backgrounds into the church and it’s grounds and it gives us an opportunity to engage with them in a relaxed atmosphere. Many conversations are held with those who, in other circumstances, would never think of entering a church.

2. It gives us a chance to demonstrate that we are outward looking and inclusive – not just here for a few people on a Sunday. We are at the centre of our community.

3. It’s profits are valuable source of income for the church and it’s work.

Out of the Ashes Concert

This year, we are trying something a little different, on Sunday 15th at 6 pm, to round off the festival. Our Out of the Ashes event is a concert of Jazz, Blues, R&B with Gospel Roots. Out of the Ashes is the creation of a pioneering husband and wife team from Gloucestershire – Penny Lyon and Kevin Washburn. You can either see them performing as a duo, or, for bigger venues like ours, they may have anything up to a nine piece band accompanying them.

Using music as part of their mission to stand for joy, healing and worth in the church, God has put it on their hearts to energise weary Christians and ailing congregations with a message of love, hope and renewed possibilities. Tickets are £10 and this includes beer, cider and snacks ( you’ll be helping us clear up what’s left after the festival!) Profits support the work of the church.

You can buy tickets for both the Beer Festival and the Out of the Ashes Concert from Chris Smith in the Community Centre Tel 617237 ( or online here)

So even if you are not a fan of beer or festivals – come along on Sunday 15th at 6pm and experience a concert of joyful, hope-filled and encouraging music. You can fiind out more about their unique ministry on their webpage here. We have also included a small sample of their music below to give you a flavour.

The 9th Old Town Beer Festivalchurchadmin2022-05-04T10:20:11+01:00

Annual Report 2021 & APCM

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The A.P.C.M. is the Annual Parochial Church Meeting. It is actually two meetings the ‘Vestry Meeting’ when we elect Churchwardens for the coming year and the APCM itself which is the business meeting of the Church – like an AGM. This year’s meeting is to be held on Sunday 24th April at 11.30am in the church.

The meeting is open to those on our Electoral Roll. Those at the meeting appoint PCC members, Deanery Synod representatives and accept the audited Church accounts.

It is also an opportunity to look back at the events of the last year and to look together with anticipation at the vision for the coming year.

As part of the meeting, the Annual Report is produced. This is the record of our financial and pastoral achievements in 2021 and also lays out our vision and strategies for the coming year.

Download the Annual Report here

Annual Report 2021 & APCMchurchadmin2022-07-11T10:30:18+01:00

Christian Aid New Arrangements-Help Needed

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Christian Aid Week 2022 – 14^th to 21^st May

Prior to Covid, during Christian Aid Week there would be a concerted effort nationally to raise funds This was primarily focused on the house-to-house delivery and collection of giving envelopes.

Although the restrictions imposed due to Covid have now been lifted, we do not believe it appropriate to resume house to house collections. However, there is an alternative – delivery only envelopes.

These are delivered with details of where they may be returned. Feedback has shown that, while you may not receive as many, the envelopes returned contain more and to have the gift aid completed. The overall total collected being therefore very similar to previous years.

Please consider delivering these envelopes in your own road or street. Contact Mike Palmer, on 01793 635112. If we get enough volunteer deliverers then the burden can be spread evenly amongst everyone.

See a list of Streets that we are responsible for.

Christian Aid New Arrangements-Help Neededchurchadmin2022-04-14T22:16:53+01:00

Mission Giving

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Mission Giving at Christ Church with St Mary’s

All our Mission Giving today will be shared between Marie Curie and Swindon Food Collective. Both charities work locally to support our community in different ways. Please use a gift aid envelope and mark it with an “M” for mission – the collection will be open for a week from the 3^rd April

You can also donate directly to the Swindon Food Collective https://www.swindonfoodcollective.org/support-us/donate-funds/

and to Marie Curie https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/donate or by post to Marie Curie, 14 Links Place, Edinburgh, EH6 9AB

Mission Givingchurchadmin2022-04-01T18:07:09+01:00

Our Beer Festival

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Once again, despite much uncertainty and difficulty, the 8th (or perhaps really the 7th and a half) Old Town Beer Festival went ahead.

The event always brings together a diverse and friendly section of our community and many conversations were had, along with a beer or two from local brewers.

Thanks must go to the Chris Smith and Jenny our Community Centre managers and to the team of volunteers who spent many hours putting together detailed plans ( as well as a lot of racking for the beers and ciders!).

The festival plays an important part in our fundraising efforts and this year, despite restrictions on numbers, we were able to raise mor than £7,000 for the mission and ministry of the church.

Our Beer Festivalchurchadmin2021-09-04T12:45:31+01:00

Summary of July 26th PCC Meeting

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The Parochial Church council is made up of members of our congregation and meets regularly to decide on strategy and day to day management of Christ Church with St Mary’s.

The latest meeting covered topics concerning, COVID management, the former Rose garden project. Eco church progress and financial reports.

Read a full summary of the meeting by clicking the button below

July PCC Summary

Summary of July 26th PCC Meetingchurchadmin2021-08-27T14:24:43+01:00

NEW EASY & SECURE GIVING – PARISH GIVING SCHEME

Stephen Grosvenor2021-04-12T14:31:35+01:00

One of the really important ways that each of us lives our faith and participates in the mission of the Church, is through the act of giving.

While there is joy in the spontaneity of a one-off gift when the Spirit moves us, it is regular giving that offers a prayerful expression of faith in action. Regular giving sustains our church and helps us to plan for the future. That is why Christ Church with St Mary’s is a member of the Parish Giving Scheme (P.G.S.)

The team at P.G.S. makes it safe and easy for you to give regularly, and just as safe and easy for our church to receive them. Every pound you donate can be put to Christian service in your community, free from time-consuming admin for your church staff and volunteers. There’s also an option for you to increase your gift annually to keep pace with the rising cost of living, with the peace of mind that you can adjust your donation at any time if your circumstances change. If you are a UK taxpayer you can opt to add Gift Aid, increasing the value of your donation by 25%, which PGS will collect from HMRC on our behalf and return to Christ Church.

How do I join the PGS?

Now, with the addition of a simple and secure online process, there are three easy ways to donate to your parish through the PGS; you can set up your Direct Debit online, by telephone, or you can fill in a gift form and post it to PGS.

If you would like to make use of the new online service from PGS, you can simply visit https://www.parishgiving.org.uk/donors/find-your-parish/

Our parish code is 050605176 and follow the instructions.

Or you scan the QR code below, which will take you straight to this parish’s landing page on the PGS website, where you can click on the ‘Give now’ button. It couldn’t be easier.

Alternatively, you can set up your regular gift by phoning the PGS team on 0333 002 1271, Monday to Friday, 9-5.