CAPTION: Rev'd Jeremy Putnam visited several churches across Devon to hear about the impact of digital giving.
Devon Churches Embracing Digital Giving
Digital giving has become increasingly common in churches as cards have become the preferred form of payment in our society.
Digital giving refers to donations made using a bank card or smart device, via a contactless donation unit or an online giving page.
The Church of England’s National Giving Team has funded a new project called the Digital Giving Rollout to help thousands of churches get started with digital giving.
The project is working on a Diocese-by-Diocese basis, and from June churches in Devon will be able to apply for one of 70 contactless giving devices which will be distributed this coming autumn.
Rev’d Jeremy Putnam, Giving Advisor at the Diocese of Exeter said:
“With more and more people using their card or mobile phone to make payments, churches that are equipped for contactless and online giving will find it much easier to invite people into the mission and ministry of the church through their giving.”
“Contactless donations are on average three times greater than cash donations, and online donations ten times greater.”
“What I hear from churches across the diocese, in all different contexts, is that the Parish Giving Scheme and Contactless Giving devices help our churches enormously.”
St Mary’s Totnes is a town centre church that gets lots of visitors during the week.
A Pay-a-Charity device in St Mary’s Church linked with the Totnes Heritage Trust.
The church uses multiple contactless devices including a donation point for visitors by the front door and a point-of-sale device in the church shop.
Churchwarden Julian Hall said: “It’s an important source of donation for us and it enables us to carry out our mission and ministry, not only to our own flock, but to anyone in the town.”
St Michael the Archangel’s Church in Chagford also uses several contactless devices as part of their giving.
Chagford is a vibrant town and St Michael’s marks the end of The Archangel’s Way, a pilgrimage route which is part of our Devon Pilgrim project.
Rev’d Jeremy Putnam with Terry Bleakman in St Michael’s Church, Chagford.
The church Treasurer, Terry Bleakman said: “The devices make a tremendous difference. We started in 2019 with a bit of cynicism about whether it would be worthwhile, but we found by the end of the year that cash donations hadn’t gone down and there was about a 30% improvement in total donations”
“You find it’s easy to talk to people about keeping these wonderful buildings open and available for them to use, but many people don’t understand that they’re maintained by the local communities.”
In the coastal town of Seaton, St Gregory’s Church has recently installed a contactless device.
St Gregory’s Contactless Device is housed in a case built by Beer Men’s Shed.
Rev’d Justin Montague said:
“We’re open every day, and people can come in and out, and this gives them the opportunity to leave a gift for us if they want to.”
“Stewardship is part of who we are as Christians and devices like this invite people to be part of that stewardship.”
If you’d like more information about contactless devices or the Digital Giving Rollout, please email our Mission Resouces Team.
Find more info about stewardship on our Generous Giving page.
