Legacies are a lifeline for our parishes. Church of England parishes receive over 4,000 legacies each year - gifts to finance mission projects, maintain beautiful church buildings and grow faithful communities. These gifts make a real difference to the future work of the Church - as regular giving often concentrates on maintaining the existing mission and ministry.
God gave us everything we have. Our stewardship beliefs and practices teach us that when we have no further use for our earthly possessions, we give back to God. Gifts in Wills are an important part of Christian giving, and leaving a gift to your church is a way to thank God for all the blessings you have received in your lifetime.
- Most people will only leave a gift in their will if they think their church will use it for worthwhile projects, not simply to fund operating costs. A legacy policy allows the PCC to prepare and discuss how they would wish to see a gift used. It can also help to reassure those interested that the PCC has a policy in place.
- PCCs should agree a policy on how potential legacy income will be spent, and then communicate it to the congregation. It is also advisable to discourage restricted gifts since the needs of a church will change over time. The Church Legacy team have created a template to help you create your own local church legacy policy.
- Family and friends often wish to donate a gift to a church in memory of a loved one or friend, perhaps in the form of an item to beautify a church, or for use in worship or church activities. Please use this helpful guide to encourage and receive 'in memoriam' gifts.
Additional Resources
Sharing in the experience of others, whose churches have been transformed by a legacy gift, is a great way to promote legacy giving. You can read some amazing stories on the Church Legacy website.
Request your free PCC Legacy Toolkit from the Church Legacy pages of the Parish Resources website.
Our Finance Team can help with further advice or please contact the National Legacy Officer free phone 08445 870875