Giving
For St Mary’s to continue to flourish and fulfil its mission, we all need to play our part in paying for the work of the church according to our means.
A Message from the Vicar
I love that our church is not just two beautiful buildings; it is the living heartbeat of our community. For our mission to be a flourishing beacon of belonging, we must all play our part in stewardship. We are created in God’s image and generosity is in our nature because God is inherently generous. We are called to be like Jesus whose life was defined by radical generosity.
Jesus’ fundamental message on money is best summed up in Matthew 6:21: “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” We naturally spend money on what we value. When the widow gave to the temple all she had, she was making a profound statement about her faith. Such generosity remains the hallmark of a lived-out faith.
The reality of maintaining our ministry is that we face significant rising operational costs and your partnership is vital. Together, we can ensure that our church remains a place of welcome and transformation. Thank you for all you give; God will take our offering and transform it into a reflection of His glory. I invite you to prayerfully consider your contribution and look inside to see the ways you can give.
With God’s blessing,
Rev Charis Enga
Why I should give?
80% of the Church of England’s work is funded locally. Your donations are what directly enable St Mary’s ability to remain open and spread God’s word. It funds:
• Our Sacred Space: Keeping our doors open for worship, prayer and reflection, covering running costs and maintenance.
• Our people: The Vicar’s stipend and our local staff team.
• Our Mission: The vital services we provide every week, including hosting the Hackney Food Bank, The Migrant Centre, and Second Chance Café.
What about government support?
The church gets no money directly from the government for its running costs. It can claim 25% Gift Aid on donations by taxpayers and can apply to the National Lottery for grants towards major capital projects.
How much should I give?
This is a matter for you to decide on prayerfully for yourself. Everyone’s circumstances are different.
As a guide for consideration, the Church of England recommends that people should give 5% of their post-tax income to the church and 5% to other charities.
If you are a regular member of the church, it is most helpful for us if you can give by direct debit to the Parish Giving Scheme. This is a much more efficient system for the church as we know exactly how much money we will receive so we can plan more effectively. It also allows you to index-link your donations if you so choose and also to register it for Gift Aid if you are a taxpayer.
A direct debit can be set up online at Parish Giving.
Alternatively, you can ring the PGS on 0333 0021271 between 9am-5pm Monday- Friday, quoting the information above and they will guide you through the process.
Or, you can fill out a paper form. These are available at the back of church with some explanatory leaflets about the PGS.
If you prefer to give cash, you can use the envelope scheme instead. Please speak to one of the church wardens or contact the church administrator at admin@stmaryn16.org to set this up.
If you are a visitor or do not have a regular income, you can donate using the card machine at the back of church or viathis link.
Articles about giving from the Diocese of London: