Monthly E-newsletter from the Finance & Stewardship Teams | |
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Thinking About Generosity
Treasurer Forum Meeting
Give To Go Green Round 3
Clergy Training - Generosity as Part of Discipleship
Listed Place of Worship Grant Scheme - Write to MP
Grants Database - User Training and Intro to Bid Writing
Parish Buying - New Contact Details
Beware of Fraudulent Emails
Parochial Fees 2025
Parish Share News
Parish Returns Open for 2024 Data & Energy Footprint Tool
Diocesan Church Buildings Grants & Loans Schemes
Quick Wins Grant to Kickstart Net Zero Church Projects
Funding to Promote Sustainable & Active Travel
A Year of Free Funds with EasyFundraising
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Thinking About Generosity | |
Sunday 19 January 2025. Epiphany 2. 1 Corinthians 12.1-11.
We share our gifts boldly, knowing that whatever they are they glorify God.
Have you ever shown up to a party, say a bring-and-share meal, and feel like what you brought massively missed the mark? Maybe everyone else brought home-cooked delights and you showed up with a big bag of crisps and a slightly mediocre dip? They spent hours prepping but you just managed a quick trip to Tesco. Maybe someone saw your offering and raised a sceptical eyebrow.
The Corinthian church excelled at creating this kind of ‘less than’ feeling. They prized some gifts over others. The public, exciting and more ’spiritual’ kind of gifts. But the reality, Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12, is the opposite. Gifts are just gifts and, yes, there are a bunch of different kinds. But your gift doesn’t make you more spiritual than anyone else: if you can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ you have the Holy Spirit (v.3)!
Spiritual gifts are different and do vary. Some are pretty normal, and some can be surprising and we are each equipped differently to serve the body of Christ. But the one who does the giving never changes: the Holy Spirit. To go back to the bring-and-share meal analogy—it’s the Spirit who brings the food. The home-cooked ham and the beautifully iced cake. And the shop-bought crisps and hummus. He brings it all and then gives us each our part to serve. We need never feel less-than, because it’s not about us! It’s what God by His Spirit has given us to give—so we share our gifts boldly knowing that, whatever they are, they glorify God.
Suse McBay is a tutor at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, and primarily teaches OT and preaching. Her website and blog can be found at susemcbay.com
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Next Treasurer Forum Meeting
January 28th 2025 (Online)
Our next Treasurer Forum meeting will take place online on Tuesday 28th January at 6.30pm. All parish treasurers should have received an individual email invitation from the Diocese in December, with a Zoom link to the meeting. At the January Forum we will be focussing on guidance towards the preparation for end of year accounts and the Annual General Meeting (APCM). If you haven't already joined our Treasurer Forum meetings do come along in January and meet with your fellow treasurers for guidance and discussion.
Please visit the Treasurer Forum webpage using the link below to view previous forum presentations and to register to become a Treasurer Ambassador. If you haven't received your Forum meeting Zoom link or need help with your role as a Treasurer, please email the Stewardship Team on resourcingparishes@leeds.anglican.org.
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Give To Go Green - Round 3
The next round of Give To Go Green has started and we are encouraging all churches, those already on their Net-Zero Carbon journey as well as those just starting out, to get involved.
Give To Go Green is a match-funding grant programme from the National Church, matching locally raised donations for carbon-reducing building projects.
Applications are open now, and will close in March 2025. Further information, including the Application Pack, is available at the link below.
The GTGG team are holding two information webinars in January for churches to find out more and ask questions about the project. You can register for these at the links below.
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Clergy Training - Generosity as Part of Discipleship
In this half-day session, the Stewardship team will explore the importance of talking about generosity and giving with our congregation and communities. We will investigate some of the practical resources to help lead these conversations, including sermon resources, small group courses, and stewardship campaigns. We will also allow plenty of time for discussion, coming up with new ideas to weave generosity into every part of church life.
In person, at Church House on Tuesday 4th February, 10am-12.30pm followed by a free lunch. Book a space on Eventbrite at the link below.
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Listed Places of Worship (LPW) Scheme
The Listed Places of Worship Scheme provides a grant equivalent to the cost of VAT on repair and maintenance work and associated professional fees on listed churches. This is provided by the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS). This is presently due to expire on 31st March 2025. The decision to extend this is a matter for the forthcoming Comprehensive Spending Review, and the DCMS are in the planning stage to determine what will happen with the scheme. In December, Adam Dance MP called for a renewal of the LPW Scheme, a motion supported by 15 MPs (more can be read about this here).
While discussions continue, it is possible to write to the Culture Secretary if you have direct experience of the scheme and have not already written. You can send an email to:
The Rt Hon Lisa Nandy MP,
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport,
1st Floor, 100 Parliament Street,
London, SW1A 2BQ
enquiries@dcms.gov.uk
We also recommend writing to your MP as this will encourage them to make direct representations to the Secretary of State at the DCMS. If you have recently completed works or are contemplating projects, explain what the LPW Scheme means to your church and invite them to visit to see the benefits. The Catholic Church has created an online tool to make contacting your MP a very easy exercise. Use the link below to use this.
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Open4Community - Grants Database Training
The Diocese of Leeds subscribes to an online grants database, Open4Community, alongside the Manchester and Chester Dioceses. This portal is freely to available for all churches in the Diocese to search for funding for different projects. The team in Manchester have organised training in both how to use the portal and also in writing funding bids. These training sessions will be run throughout 2025, starting in January. See links below:
Open4Community Grants Portal Training: 23rd January at 7pm on Zoom - register here.
Bid Writing Training: 30th January at 7pm on Zoom - register here.
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New Contact Details for Parish Buying
There have been a few developments to Parish Buying over the recent months. The latest improvement relates to its customer service contact details, which have now changed. Parish Buying have produced a flyer detailing the new contact details that is available for you to print and post on your noticeboard. To access the flyer and download it please use the link below.
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SumUp Verification
There has been updated guidance around the new verification process for SumUp accounts. This guidance is included as part of the onboarding pack available to view on Parish Buying. Please see the link to this below, note you will need to log in to Parish Buying before you can view this guidance.
For proof of account owner link to the church (for Treasurers and Church
Wardens), SumUp have confirmed they will accept:
▪ APCM / PCC meeting minutes
▪ Power Of Attorney letter signed by incumbent
The onboarding flow now includes questions about source of funds which has been added to the SumUp instructions.
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Finance & Parish Share Updates | |
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Beware of Fraudulent Emails!
We are aware from another diocese that some PCCs have received unauthorised requests to change the bank account into which Parish Share payments are made. The Leeds Diocesan Board of Finance has no plans to change our bank details and if you receive any request to change payment details, you should verify that with us directly by calling Church House reception (0113 200 0540) and asking for Finance. Likewise, if you receive requests from other parties to change bank account details, you should always independently verify this with them before proceeding.
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2025 Parochial Fees
The 2025 Parochial Fees have recently been published by the central Church of England. We have updated our forms and these are now available on the diocesan website through the link below. If you have any questions regarding parochial fees please contact fees@leeds.anglican.org
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Parish Share News
- If you are making late 2024 Parish Share payments please clearly mark them as being for 2024.
- Our 2024 Parish Share certificates along with the 2025 Parish Share posters will be posted out to parishes at the end of January. If you haven't already seen our 2025 Parish Share Digital Guide you can view it on our Parish Share Explained website page by clicking on the link below.
- If you missed November's Parish Share report update please see details below. December's Parish Share report will be available on the Diocesan website later in January at the link below.
- November Parish Share receipts of £1,048k were marginally lower than the £1,127k received in November 2023. Year-to-date receipts are £9.8 million, the same as the £9.8m received by this point in 2023. This equates to 64% of the total £15.3m requested for 2024.
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Parish Returns Open for 2024 Data.
Remember to Complete the Energy Footprint Tool!
Return of Parish Finance, Statistics for Mission and the Energy Footprint Tool are all open now for churches to enter their data for 2024.
The deadlines for submissions are:
Statistics for Mission: 31st January 2025
Parish Finance : 28th June 2025
EFT: 30th June 2025
Note that for some Net-Zero Carbon funding, like the NZC Quick Wins and Give To Go Green, submitting the Energy Footprint Tool is necessary as part of the application process. Do this sooner rather than later to ensure your church is eligible for funding.
To find out more about the Energy Footprint Tool visit the link below.
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Grants & Fundraising News | |
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Diocesan Church Buildings Grants and Loans Schemes 2025
The updated application form and guidelines for the Diocesan Church Buildings Grants Scheme in 2025 is now available to download from the Diocesan website.
There are three grant application rounds in 2025 with deadlines of:
28th February
30th June
31st October
For more information on the Grants & Loans Schemes and to download the relevant application forms please visit our website using the link below.
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Apply Now for A Grant to Help you Kickstart a Net-Zero Project in Your Church
Churches in the Leeds Diocese looking to reduce their carbon emissions can now apply for a Quick Wins grant to help launch a small project.
Following the success of the first round, applications are now open for grants of up to £10,000. These can be used to help fund small scale decarbonisation projects such as new LED lighting, pew heaters, insulation or updating electricity supplies.
Further details and the relevant application form can be found within the Church Buildings Grant Scheme information, available at the link below. The deadline for this round of funding is 28th February. Contact NZC Fundraising Officer Fran Taylor for more information
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Funding Available for Work Promoting Sustainable and Active Travel
Looking for funding for cycle racks, EV charging or even solar to power EV chargepoints? Then the Naturesave Trust wants to help you make your project a reality.
Naturesave are looking to support projects that actively promote sustainable and eco-friendly approaches to travel and transport, including:
Vehicles: clean fuel, batteries, or both. This can include electric vehicles, hybrid power systems, and fuel cells.
Infrastructure: such as public transportation systems.
Energy source: Using renewable energy sources instead of fossil fuels like coal.
Activity: Walking, cycling, or using a scooter instead of driving.
Funding of up to £5,000 is available. The deadline for applications is 27th February 2025. Full details at the link below.
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Over a year, just one person could raise £358 for your church for free without doing anything other than shopping online.
Yes, it really is that simple. Sign your church up to easyfundraising so one-off annual purchases and everyday items bought from over 8,000 retailers can earn your church free donations.
Find out more here: www.easyfundraising.org.uk/diocese-of-leeds
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A reminder of our email addresses so you get the right support and advice: | |
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For stewardship, income generation, parish finance, Parish Share and grant enquiries:
resourcingparishes@leeds.anglican.org or you can email Janet, Beth or Jenni directly.
For general finance queries including invoices, clergy fees and payroll:
finance@leeds.anglican.org or you can email Jane, Hayley or Jenni directly.
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