Giving through Legacies

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.

Encouraging people to consider, once they have made provision for their loved ones, to make a lasting gift to God, by leaving a legacy to His church is a vital and important task. A gift left in a Will to a local church is one of the most valuable and lasting ways to support its mission and ministry within your community.

It is good practice to always mention legacies in any stewardship campaign (however briefly) both to honour previous benefactors and to encourage future ones. It is good to preach on and to teach on legacy giving. It is also pastorally good practice, in general, to encourage the writing of wills.

Here is more information and resources for PCCs to encourage legacy giving in your parish