If your PCC is asked to prove its charitable status it could provide the bank with the following:

  1. A Church Near You (www.achurchnearyou.com), the Church of England's national website and rearchable directory of every church, enables creation of a certificate that confirms your PCC's charitable status. This could be done by going to the PCC’s own page, then clicking on the ‘More Information’ tab on the left hand side. Scroll to the bottom of the page, where the option to ‘Download Certificate’ is offered, and click on that and then enter name and e-mail address, to enable the certificate confirming Exempted Charity status and the relevant measure, to be e-mailed to the given email address.
  2. Gift Aid number – this is also a proof of charitable status which can be verified with HMRC.
  3. Charity Commission registration number if your PCC's annual income is over £100,000.
  4. Further information can be found on Governing Documents of PCCs on the website Parish Resources (www.parishresources.org.uk).

Common questions you may be asked, and example answers:

What is the purpose of your organisation?
Church of England Parochial Church Council (PCC)

Is your organisation registered or regulated by a government authority
(state, federal or international body)?

Charity commission and Church of England rules

Does the organisation give funds directly to an Ultimate Beneficiary or provide funds to an Intermediate Beneficiary?
Operates as a Church

What was the initial source of investment(s) or funds to start your organisation?
(select all applicable to your PCC)

  • Donations
  • Grants
  • Other sources of wealth/fund
  • Loan/bank funding
  • Sale of asset

How does your organisation continue to fund its ongoing cash flow requirements?
(select all applicable to your PCC)

  • Donations
  • Grants
  • Other sources of wealth/fund
  • Loan/bank funding
  • Sale of asset

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