PAYING OUR WAY
Following the end of the church's financial year, I have been involved in producing the Financial Statement and also submitting a budget for 2011.
Our major outgoing is the Parish Share which is paid to Salisbury. The Parish Share figure for 2011 for West Parley will be £54,682 (2010 £54,874). We are assessed as a parish on the average number of church worshippers, who may be regular or sporadic, over a rolling three year period and with a figure of 141.67, this equates to a payment of £386 to Salisbury for each worshipper this year.
When I prepare the budget, not only has the Parish Share to be included but also the day to day running costs of the church buildings and the services, which adds a further approximate £19,600.
We have income from Hall rent, Magazine income and Fees as an offset against expenditure, but we still need to find some £57,500 to balance the book which is about £400 p.a. from each of our church worshippers although the bulk of the giving rests with the approximate 100 regular worshippers.
Giving through the Standing Order, Freewill Offering envelopes, supplemented by tax reclaimed, and Plate collections brings in about £51,500 and this has gradually been increasing over the past few years as our church attendance has prospered. This is a healthy trend but we have had to use interest from our capital legacy funds for the past couple of years to 'balance the book'. With interest rates at negligible levels, in 2010 even this was insufficient and unfortunately we are now using capital of approximately £4,000 p.a. to balance.
The PCC are conscious to keep the outgoings to a minimum and I am always looking to increase income where possible. Weekly Freewill Offering envelopes can be provided for those not currently using the facility or alternatively there is a Standing Order arrangement. Yellow envelopes can be used for plate collection for those who are taxpayers, and I can then claim an additional 25% thus increasing the income!
I appreciate that the current financial climate is difficult, but we should all consider how we can help to bridge the income shortfall to 'Pay our Way'.
Also of relevance is Key facts about the Church of England (Opens new window)
Gift Aid will benefit the Church
Throughout time Charities have depended on the Alms, Tithes and giving of individuals to carry out their work. The Church is no exception and All Saints and St. Marks have benefited and been able to plan due to regular committed giving from church members.
The weekly envelope scheme, bank standing orders and cheques are the mainstay of the Church's income supplemented by collection plate giving at Services.
From the 6th April 2000, there have been major changes to the tax treatment of gifts with the introduction of Gift Aid. This can be of immense benefit to the Church.
The advantage of Gift Aid, over the previous Covenant arrangement, is that there is no fixed commitment.
Every pound donated can be enhanced by an additional 28%, if the donor has paid the equivalent tax. The donation does not have to be regular but can also be on an occasional basis. If your financial circumstances alter in the future, then you can adjust, both up or down, the amount you are giving.
Obviously, the Inland Revenue can ask for proof of giving and hence donations either regular or occasional need to be verified and consequently need to be by the envelope scheme, bank standing order or cheque. All this means is that to reclaim the tax a simple declaration form has to be completed and all donations are, of course, regarded as confidential by the Church.
We need to use the tax rules to the advantage of the Church. At this time of Stewardship, I would ask all those who are tax payers and at present use the envelope scheme but have not signed a gift aid form for their donations to use the Gift Aid scheme.
Even more important, those who are tax payers and place money in the collection plate could benefit the Church by switching to the envelope system.
As Gift Aid Secretary, I will be pleased to talk to any member of the Church and provide the declaration form.
Let us use the Tax rules to the Church's benefit.
For every £100 given the Church will receive £128
Derek Warner (Tel. 871952)
"This press release from Salisbury gives an indication of the success of the diocesan-wide Give to Grow campaign. We were one of the parishes that did not give a quantifiable result to Salisbury as, you will recall, we did not ask for specific pledges. However it is very pleasing to report that, from the figures already available within this year, a very generous response has been made by our parish and the rise in our share by almost £7000 is looking nearly attainable!"