Giving
Be our guest
If you are a visitor, new to St John’s or just exploring what it means to follow Jesus, you are our guest and you are welcome. We don’t expect you to pay for what you receive from us.
We hope you will encounter a God who shows his generosity and self-giving nature in everything he does: in the variety and scope of everything he has made, and in his self-giving sacrifice, saving us through the death of Jesus. So if you decide to become a regular at St John’s, you may wonder how you can become generous like him.
How can I be generous too?
St John’s is entirely self-funding. Giving enables us to meet our commitments, maintain our church and buildings and also to give to others (see below).
Generous giving involves thinking ahead and planning. We rely on regular giving to set our budget and plan ahead. It also allows you and us to take advantage of tax efficient giving schemes.
This is how you can help us. There are different forms of giving:
By Direct Debit:
Arranging a monthly direct debit via the Parish Giving Scheme is the most helpful way that you can give to us as a church, as this enables the leaders to plan for ministry development in the knowledge of a regular income. Please fill in a direct debit form using the PGS pack available from the Church Office or sign up at http://bit.ly/SJLH-PGS.
If you are a UK taxpayer, there is a great benefit to the church (and at no extra cost to you) if you sign the Tax Declaration portion of the direct debit form. This enables the church to reclaim tax worth 25% on top of your gift. You need to make sure that you will have paid enough tax in the Tax Year to cover the amount that the church reclaims on your giving.
Any adjustments or changes in the amount or personal details can be made to the Parish Giving Scheme using the details in the pack or by contacting PGS directly:
Phone: 0333 002 1271
Email: info@parishgiving.org.uk
The St John’s PGS Parish Code is 290629020.
By Cash or Cheque:
You may wish to make occasional or special additional donations. These can be placed in the offerings plate on Sunday or posted (cheques only) to the Church Office. Cheques should be made payable to “St John’s Church PCC”. Don’t forget to fill in a Gift Aid envelope if you are a UK taxpayer.
By Give As You Earn:
This is when you arrange for payments to be deducted by your employer from gross salary before tax and paid to the church via CAF (Charities Aid Foundation) using our Registered Charity Number of 1135824. Our church bank account is called “St John’s Church PCC” and our church treasurer is Mr Alex Thompson, St John’s Church, 7 Church Rd, Locks Heath, Southampton SO31 6LW.
By a Legacy:
Those of us in the current generation are very grateful to others who thought ahead and have gone before us leaving the church a legacy in their wills. You can make a real difference with the money you can’t take with you. Ask the church office about leaving a legacy to St John’s Church.
By Card:
You are can make an immediate payment to St John’s Church by a credit or debit card by clicking the button below. If you are a UK taxpayer, you can give your details when asked so that we can claim Gift Aid on your donation.
Giving from St John’s
At St John’s, we believe that we should share what we have through a programme of external giving throughout the year.
Tithing from the PCC funds
We give a proportion of our church income to worthy causes. The charities below have a historical link to St John’s and many have received support from St John’s in the past, lately through the External Giving Team. Tithing to these charities is from the PCC funds and is in addition to the regular giving events organised by members of St John’s. Each has a nominated contact from St John’s who can provide us with news and updates.
Ghana Link
St John’s has a long-established relationship with Ghana and this donation is made to the Essikado Archdeaconry.
Two Saints
Two Saints is a Christian charity that supports homeless and vulnerable people in crisis locally and around Hampshire and the South Coast.
Church Mission Society
St John’s contribution is to the CMS General Fund.
Friends without Borders
Friends without Borders exists to support some of the poorest and most neglected people. It is not always widely known that asylum seekers and refugees face a very difficult, not to say hostile environment in this country.
St George Foundation
St George Foundation is a charity which rescues street-children in Freetown, Sierra Leone. They also assist during natural and fire disasters.
Local Basics Banks
The Fareham and Gosport Basics Bank provides practical support for any in crisis (food, toiletries, some clothing) in a welcoming, caring environment where each person is valued and respected as an individual.
Mission Africa Nash Poor Fund
This is a UK charity that supports Jeremy Nash in his ministry to children in Chad.
The Moving On Project
This local charity provides both quality and confidential counselling to improve the emotional health and wellbeing of young people aged between 11-25 in Fareham, Gosport and surrounding areas, so that they can achieve their full potential.
Light for Bulgaria
Light for Bulgaria is a UK registered charity set up to help the elderly and disabled people who live in the mountain villages of South West Bulgaria. They have also supported arriving Ukrainian refugees.
Fundraising through the year
In addition to tithing by the PCC, there are regular dedicated collections such as for Christian Aid Week in May and Christingle at Christmas.
There are also various charity fundraising events throughout the year. These take the form of retiring collections for DEC crisis appeals, through to coffee mornings for local and national charities.
We are blessed with a generous community.