TAKE THE TOUR - CHURCH FINANCE

St Nicolas Church, like any other large organisation, needs to be properly financed. Most of the church's funding has to be raised from its members each year so that the costs of running the Church can be fully met. The various individuals and groups involved in the church finances and the work they do are set out below.

LOOKING AFTER THE MONEY

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) has full responsibility for all decisions about the income and expenditure of the church. However, day-to-day management of the church finances is delegated to the Finance Committee. Because the church income exceeds £250,000, our accounts have to be independently examined every year. The summary accounts are presented at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) each April. Our objective is to break even each year. The church treasurer, Nigel Bryant (left), chairs the Finance Committee and ensures that the PCC is properly briefed on all financial matters. The church's financial controller, Rosemary Freeman, manages the day-to-day accounting and produces monthly accounts. A team of individuals count the collection after Sunday services on a rota basis.

Although we rely mainly on our members for our income we are fortunate to have some properties which are rented out commercially. We also get some income from investments. Our costs include the parish share, which we pay to the diocese and which funds our clergy and helps support other parishes. We pay for the salaries of other staff (eg, the office, youth work and cleaning), together with the maintenance, heating and power of the buildings. The PCC aims to donate 10% of its annual unrestricted income to charity. From time to time we face major expenditure for items such as roof repairs or organ restoration. Since it is not our policy to accumulate significant reserves, such projects require separate fund-raising activities. This is certainly true of the reordering project which we hope to undertake over the next few years.

STEWARDSHIP

Stewardship is a word used to refer to giving that is planned and tax-efficient. These days, the best way of doing this is by Gift Aid. This allows individuals who are UK tax payers to enable charities to ask the Inland Revenue for the tax the giver has already paid on the gift. Every £100 which is gift-aided results in the charity receiving a further £28.20. There are other ways of giving tax efficiently. Many companies now have Give As You Earn (GAYE) schemes, which also attract tax relief. Legacies are also a good way of giving to the church and we invite members to consider including a bequest to the church in their will.

If you would like to give to the work of the church, you can now do so online by clicking here.

Alternatively, please tick the relevant box on the 'Feedback and Keeping in Touch' sheet available from the church welcome pack and we will send you the necessary details.

If you prefer, you can click here to download a Giving Form which you can then print out and fill in. Giving is a private matter and any information you give is treated confidentially. Our stewardship recorder is Bob Kennaugh (left).

OUTREACH GIVING

As mentioned above, the PCC aims to donate 10% of its annual unrestricted income to charity. One of the main tasks of the Outreach Committee each year is to decide which causes to support and how much to donate to each of them. Members of the congregation are welcome to suggest individuals or organisations for consideration. The committee is also keen to hear from church members who are planning to undertake short or long term mission projects for which they would welcome support. Just drop a note to the church office marked 'Outreach Committee'.

HOW TO GIVE

There is no membership fee, annual subscription or charge for admission to St Nicolas Church. And anyway, contributing to the work of the church involves giving not just our money but our time and talents as well. We invite those who are committed to St Nicolas Church to ask God to lead them in this matter. Our giving as Christians should be in response to God's love rather than the demands of the parish budget. The Bible urges us to give from the heart and to be generous and sacrificial. Some people find the principle of the 'tithe' helpful - setting aside a tenth of our income for the work of God. But in the end, no one else can tell us what to give - Christian stewardship is about considering our personal circumstances and responsibilities before God in prayer and giving accordingly.

If you have any queries or comments about the church finances, please contact the St Nicolas Church treasurer, Nigel Bryant, via the church office. The stewardship recorder, Bob Kennaugh, may also be contacted via the church office.