Hello there,

We are writing to invite you the join the PGS (Parish Giving Scheme), a way of giving regularly to the work and ministry of Calverley Parish Church. You may already have had a letter like this, in which case – please feel free to skip this email!

It is the regular support such as this which allows us to continue to be a source of light and hope in this community, and pursue our vision of Loving God, Loving Calverley, and Growing Together, as well as supporting our commitment to other charitable work. While we are always grateful to occasional donations, planned giving allows us to better manage our resources.

Along with many, St. Wilfrid’s has seen significant increases in outgoings, as well as reduced income from regular giving, which is part of our income.
The reality is that we are currently forecast to have a shortfall in our costs of £28,000 this year; this is a significant challenge indeed.
You may be aware that parish churches receive no money from the Church of England and are entirely dependent on their own resources for their maintenance, as well as contributing to Parish Share. The Diocese of Leeds’ Parish Share goes wholly to funding the stipend & accommodation of clergy, and is key to sustaining ministry in our area.

We recognise that with current increases in the cost of living that it is a difficult time to be asked to give. Please be assured that we understand this, and we ask only that your giving is prayerful and considered.
We are grateful for any new or increased financial giving you feel able to commit to, of any size, and if circumstances prevent this, we are equally grateful for your ongoing commitment to our community in terms of time and prayer. (Please note, as Vicar and wardens, we do not, and will not, know the amount any individual or family gives. That information remains between you and the Giving Officer of the church.)

To this end, we want to let you know about the Parish Giving Scheme (PGS), a new programme we are using. The PGS is an automated banking system designed to help churches and worshippers manage and coordinate giving.

There are many benefits to the PGS, both for individuals and the church.
Through the PGS, anyone can donate on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis by Direct Debit from their bank account. Monthly donations are taken on the 1st day of each month, for whatever amount you prayerfully choose.
PGS will then collect all the donations for St. Wilfrid’s, together with any Gift Aid, and transfer the total into the church account at the same time.
(Gift Aid is the charitable income-tax rebate, which gives us an extra 25p for every £1 donated by UK taxpayers.)

As you can see, this saves us some administrative work and gives us extra income, all at no extra cost to either the church or the individual, as the diocese funds this new PGS scheme. All payments are secure and covered by the Direct Debit guarantee, and you can make changes to, or halt, your donations at any time. You will also be invited to consider increasing your donations each year in line with inflation, if you wish.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. If you would like to sign up to the Parish Giving Scheme, it's very straightforward. All you need to do is call 0333 002 1260 and quote the Parish Reference Number for our church, which is 460646127. Alternatively, you can sign up at parishgiving.org.uk.
Please make sure you also have you bank details to hand.
Should you need help or advice about any aspect of your giving, you can speak to Margaret in confidence in church or by phone.

Yours with every blessing,
Rob, Sandra, Dan, Margaret

Rev. Rob Denton, Vicar
Sandra Tempest & Dan Cohen, Churchwardens
Margaret Roundhill, Giving Officer

Contact Margaret on 0113 256 7495, 07870 974 439,
or [email protected]