Legacy gifts can be used to fund mission and ministry projects, help to maintain historic church buildings, and ensure faithful people can be at the heart of local communities in the Diocese of York for years to come.
Legacy giving, on average, accounts for 60% of UK charitable income, but for our parish churches, the average is much lower at just 7%.
Writing a will and planning your funeral are two simple acts of good stewardship. God entrusted us to use his gifts wisely, for the good of our loved ones, our church family, and the wider world. In thanksgiving, we should also take will-writing seriously – setting our affairs in order and stewarding them wisely.
How to increase legacy giving
If you want to talk to your congregation about leaving a lasting legacy, a guide on how to frame this conversation can be found here.
The video below outlines the impact of how a legacy (no matter how large or small) can transform the life and mission of your local church community. The video lasts for 4 minutes and 30 seconds, and can be shown in your PCC meeting.
Free online will-writing service
The Diocese of York and The Church of England have partnered with award-winning online will-writing company, Farewill, to offer a free online will-writing service. This normally costs £100 for a single will or £160 for couples.
You can redeem your free online will by clicking on the link below:
We have created a step-by-step guide to help your will-writing journey with Farewill be as easy as possible.
Farewill provides useful online guidance on a wide variety of topics which should answer any specific questions you may have, including a how to make a will guide.
Disclaimer: By participating in this will-writing scheme, your details will not be shared with the Church of England. If you use the Church of England will-writing scheme, there is no obligation to leave a gift to a church in your will. Your loved ones should always come first. If you do choose to remember your local or a favourite church, thank you. Every gift, great or small, will make a real difference to that church and its mission and ministry in your community for future generations.
For guidance on ensuring that legacy fundraising is carried out in accordance with the Code of Fundraising Practice, please visit the Fundraising Regulator. Contact the National Legacy Officer at giving@churchofengland.org for more information.