Your Faith. Your Legacy. Their Future.
Safeguard our culture, heritage and community by making a gift in your will.
For generations, St Stephen’s Church has been a place where our community gathers, grows, and finds comfort. Legacy gifts, large or small, help us continue this ministry of welcome and care. Every gift, no matter how large or small, will make a lasting and valued contribution in our villages.
Thank you for considering supporting the future of our church.
How pledging a gift in your will supports our villages:
£1,000
Fund one week of all our activities in the community.
£5,000
Pay for a year’s heating and insurance for the church building.
£25,000
Pay for the refurbishment of St Stephen’s Room, or provision of disability-friendly facilities.
Since needs change over the years, we encourage you to leave a gift in your will for the general purposes of the parish rather than for a restricted purpose.
Should I consider leaving a gift to St Stephen’s Church?
For God has proved his love by giving us his greatest treasure, the gift of his Son. And since God freely offered him up as the sacrifice for us all, he certainly won’t withhold from us anything else he has to give.
Romans 8:32 (TPT)
“We can’t take our money with us when we go, but we can choose the footprint we leave for others.
Planning ahead brings peace of mind. By choosing to leave a small percentage of my estate to the church, I know I’m helping to strengthen the future of our community while still taking care of my family. It’s a simple act that becomes a lasting legacy.”
Doug
In 2011 we were able to re-roof the church at St Stephen’s when we were left a share of a property.
The vision of St Stephen’s Church is to bring hope, friendship and welcome by sharing the love of Jesus.
We are a church that is committed to worshipping God in a way that is accessible and relevant to the people we serve, and to encourage a personal commitment of faith and continued growth in discipleship for all. We are a church with people who are generous in the giving of their time, talents and money and who express God’s love in love and service to others.
Please consider how a gift in your will could help your Church meet the needs of future generations. We will use the resources we have – our time, buildings and money – wisely in God’s service.
Legacy giving is for everyone. Even a small share of an estate can have a lasting impact.
Pray about your decision whether to leave a legacy to St Stephen’s Church or not. Consider the needs of your own family.
If you decide to leave us a legacy, read more about How To below.
Your Will Matters
Making a will and updating it regularly is the only way to make sure your wishes are carried out after your death, giving you peace of mind that you can continue to support your family, friends and causes that you love.
Whatever your age, write a will and keep it up to date. Without a will, your loved ones could face a lot of work, trouble and expense after your death.
As Christians, we believe that we are God’s stewards, entrusted to use His gifts to us for the good of our family and our church family. In thanksgiving, we should also take will writing seriously, stewarding what we have wisely.
Many Christians give regularly and proportionately from their income. Why not consider giving a lasting gift from your estate, too?
A gift in your will enables our Church to play its part in the unfolding Christian story in our community.
Inheritance tax
When you leave gifts to charity in your will they can significantly reduce the taxable value of your estate. This is because charitable donations are exempt from Inheritance Tax, meaning the amount you donate is not included in the taxable value of your estate. Inheritance Tax is only charged on the part of your estate that is above the tax-exempt threshold. The estate can also pay Inheritance Tax at a reduced rate on some assets if you leave 10% or more of the ‘net value’ to charity in your will. Ask your solicitor or accountant for advice if this is relevant to you.
A paragraph about informing us
We understand that your will is private. We respect this and understand that you may not want to tell us that you have made a gift in your will. If, however, you are willing to share this information we can better plan for the future. We understand that your circumstances and wishes may change. There is no obligation to leave anything to St Stephen’s Church but we would be truly grateful if you do.
How to leave a gift to St Stephen’s Church
At St Stephen’s Church we are grateful for all gifts in wills, however large or small, and we endeavour to use your gift to make a difference in our parish.
The most common types of gifts are:
Percentage share – A percentage share of your estate gifted to charity can inflation-proof the gift.
Lump sum – A fixed amount that leaves the remainder of your estate to your family but may lose its value over time.
A specific gift – A particular item such as shares, a car, jewellery or property.
Our Legacy Policy explains how we use gifts left to the church.