Digital Rollout 2025

Why use contactless devices for donations in church?

With card having overtaken cash as the preferred form of payment in society generally in 2017, we know that having the ability to accept digital donations is going to be key for many churches in the years to come. (For an overview of ‘digital giving’, please refer to our web page here.

In 2022 alone, churches across the country received digital donations and payments of almost £10m. That’s why, in 2021 the Church of England’ embarked on a three-year project to help thousands more churches get started with digital giving.

It started with four pilots with dioceses across the country to test out different types of devices and ways of training churches. Then, in 2023, a national roll-out of free/ subsided devices took place, in which the Diocese of Exeter deployed seventy devices.

This year, the Diocese of Exeter is embarking on its own “mini-rollout”, with over twenty free devices being made available to successful applicants.

How is the rollout going to work?

Applications, made via completion of an online form (below), will be accepted from Devon churches only , between mid-July and end August. The Mission Resources Team will then meet to consider all the applications and allocate devices from the available pool to a range of churches. Successful applicants will need to attend an online webinar in September; and hands-on training in November using their allocated device, which they will take away after the session. That way, they should feel equipped with how to get the most out of digital giving.

Click here for the application form.

How is the rollout going to work?

General information about the 2025 ‘mini rollout’ of digital giving devices in Exeter Diocese

Who is running this project?

The digital giving rollout is being coordinated by the Exeter Diocese Mission Resources team: Brigit Kiyaga, Philip Whitlock and Naomi Wimsett

Who are the Mission Resources Team?

The Mission Resources Team is a small department within the Diocese of Exeter which supports churches in Devon in the area of Generous Giving – specifically aiming to equip parishes with the tools and knowledge to create the best environment for giving and generosity in their churches. You can find out more about the team and what they do here.

How many churches will benefit from the rollout of digital giving?

We anticipate supplying over 20 contactless donation devices and, if required, a router for obtaining mobile internet connectivity. The donation software application powering the devices also allows for the deployment of online giving web pages.

Our church wants to get started with digital giving sooner than our diocese is scheduled to take part in the rollout. Is it worth us getting started now?

Yes, absolutely! It is free to set up online giving through Parish Buying, so we recommend churches get started with this as soon as they’re able to. Remember that online giving can include the use of QR codes, which can be printed and displayed in your church building, on pew cards, on order of services and so on. So it’s very easy to offer visitors to your church a digital way to give. You can find all the information you’ll need to set up an online giving page here (you will need to have registered with Parish Buying – see below – to access these pages).

In respect of a contactless donation device, not all churches within our Diocese will be able to access a machine through the mini-rollout because resources are limited. Therefore if your church is in a position to purchase a device we would recommend you do so, as there is no guarantee you will receive a free/subsidised one later.

Additionally, some churches will cover the upfront cost of their device within less than a year. Therefore there are likely to be lots of benefits to getting started with contactless giving sooner rather than later. You can see all the different options available for contactless giving on this page of Parish Buying, and you should contact a member of the Mission Resources team (click to email mission.resources@exeter.anglican.org)  if you would like more advice on what device might be most suitable for your church.

What is Parish Buying?

Parish Buying is a buying service set up by the Church, for churches. It uses the bulk buying power that the Church has, to negotiate competitive rates on a variety of different products and services that many churches require. It is free to register for an account, and more than one person from your church can register. It is through Parish Buying that the rates for the devices in the rollout project have been secured.

My church is thinking about applying to take part in our diocese’s digital giving project

How does the application process work?

You will need to fill in an online form that will probably take around 15 minutes to complete. This asks for details about your church to assess how digital giving might be of most benefit to you. You’ll find more information about the application process in your diocese’s project pack, which is available here:

Project Pack 2025 Diocese of Exeter

When will I hear if my church has been successful in applying for a device?

The timeline for our project is outlined in the project pack above- on pages 14 and 15 you will find the timeline.

If successful, when will I receive my device?

You will be able to collect your device at an in-person training session in November, likely to be in Exeter and Barnstaple but more information will follow.

My church already has a basic card-reader, can we still take part?

Of course, you are welcome to apply. Basic card readers are a great first step into contactless giving, but we see the devices being given out as part of this project as a step beyond the use of just a card reader.

My church already has a contactless donation device similar to those being offered as part of this project, can we still take part?

Unfortunately we are unable to offer a fully-integrated device to churches which already have one.

If successful with our application, who owns the contactless donation unit?

Once you’ve received the device it is your responsibility to look after it and use it, and it will be the PCC’s property, subject to the caveat below.

If successful, will our church need to give our device back for any reason?

Only if you are not using your device, or only using it very infrequently. If you find that you are not able to make the most of your device then we will request that the device be returned so that it may be passed on to another church within the diocese. However, we will always work with you first to ensure that you have been able to access any additional support you need to make the most out of contactless giving. You will always be given plenty of notice about what’s expected of your church.

Do I need an internet connection?

In the majority of cases, yes. If you do not have such a connection in your church building it may be that your device can operate by accessing a mobile phone signal instead to connect to the internet; there are questions on the application form that ask about connectivity so that we can allocate the most suitable setup to your church. Our budget allows the free provision of a 4G mobile router to cater for such cases, but the church will be responsible for securing and paying for a suitable mobile data service via a SIM card.

In a small number of cases we may be able to supply a device which can accept donations offline.  But such devices require specific management as they still regularly need to be removed and taken to an internet-connected location to upload the donations captured offline. For most churches in this situation this looks like someone taking the device home at the end of the day and connecting to their home Wi-Fi.

How secure are contactless donation devices?

The incidences of contactless donation devices being stolen from a church to date are very rare, to our knowledge. All the devices offered in this project are physically securable in some way and will be provided with the means to secure it for unattended use. Devices, apart from those working offline, should be configured with the provided ‘kiosk’ app software, to prevent unwarranted access to the operating system (Android). The installed donation software app also offers the capability of locking out access to its menu functions.

Does our church need a faculty for a contactless donation device?

Contactless donation devices fall under List A of the Faculty Rules, so no faculty or consultation is needed to secure a device so long as the device isn’t being attached to any historic . For more details, see 2025-Matters-which-may-be-undertaken-without-a-Faculty.pdf (section A5 , 4 l&m)

Is there a cost to take part?

Devices offered through the rollout are supplied free-of-charge. You will find a breakdown of the actual and potential running costs associated with each device in the project pack. Actual running costs relate to the transaction fees levied by the merchant provider (see “What is a merchant account” below). The church will potentially incur other costs, the specific example being where internet connectivity is being provided by a 4G mobile signal.

Why do some devices shown on Parish Buying have a monthly charge and others don’t?

For some of the units available via Parish Buying (for example, from GWD), there is an associated monthly service charge. Some such devices are able to work offline; but also the charge reflects an increased level of support available for such devices such that they work ‘out of the box’ i.e., the providers of such devices configure all the settings and so on for you, so there is minimal set up to when you receive the device. Any changes to these settings are also managed remotely by the provider.

For this rollout, we have chosen not to offer such devices, given the high capital cost and the potential ongoing affordability issue for the church.

For CollecTin and Payaz devices, the National Church Institutions (NCIs) negotiate an annual deal with the donation software provider (Give A Little) whereby the premium version of the app is provided free of charge to parishes. The quid pro quo is that the initial set-up process (including accounts set-up, machine and software configuration), is more complex and takes longer. These aspects will be covered in the webinars and hands-on training sessions when you collect your device. Ongoing support will be available from within the Mission Resources team, supported if required by the National Giving Team.

It is important to remember that a cost for connecting to the internet is always paid for somewhere with the use of contactless donation devices: either in the form of WiFi, or a mobile data SIM, or in paying more for offline functionality.

How can our church explore different options for connectivity?

Please see the guidance available on this page of the Church of England website, and the different options available through Parish Buying

Are there any minimum contract periods?

There is no hardware or software contract that needs to be purchased in respect of the types of devices being made available in this rollout. If you require a 4G SIM with a data bundle to provide internet connectivity, the terms of provision can vary depending on the supplier and ‘bundles’ on offer. Some suppliers offer 12-month (or longer) contracts; contract-free arrangements (which auto-renew on a monthly basis unless you specifically choose non-renewal) can also be procured.

Do I need PCC sign off to take part?

We would strongly recommend that the case of a device is presented to the PCC for agreement to proceed with an application for a free device.

The deployment of a card-reader can be considered to be a strategic initiative which involves other considerations, including:

  • Likely utilisation of such a device (services, events, visitors to church (assuming building is open during the day), etc)
  • Likely level of incremental receipts (taking into account some cannibalisation where cash givers simply switch to digital giving)
  • Preferred type of device
  • Connectivity
  • Optimum location(s) within the building (card-reader and router (if required))
  • Proximity of electrical supply
  • Physical security

What is a merchant account?

Once you have been allocated a device you will be required to create a ‘merchant account’ with a particular provider. This is the financial process that enables donations to be taken on your behalf and then moved into your church’s bank account. Once you are allocated a unit, the details and processes that you are required to follow will be communicated to you.

What support will I be able to access?

During this project you will be required to attend two sets of training:

  • Digital giving webinar: this will give you some foundational knowledge about digital giving, introduce you to members of the project team, and give you an opportunity to ask any questions you may have.
  • Collection training: depending on the device you are allocated, this will either be a hands-on session (most likely in each of Exeter and Barnstaple), using the device that has been allocated to you. This will mean you receive interactive training using your unit and you can ask any questions you have. At the end of the session, you will leave with the device and should be ready to deploy it in your church building
  • In respect of ongoing support, you will be required to register with the Exeter Diocese Digital Giving Support Desk, via which you can log questions, problems and requests, either via its online portal, or by email. Registration also gives access to a library of guides and advice within its “Knowledge Base”
  • Our team in Exeter can, if required, also call on the National Giving Team if further expertise is required. The unit manufacturers also have support teams should there be a technical or hardware issue that needs resolving.

How will my church’s data be used?

The Diocese of Exeter will have access to the data disclosed in your application form. You can find our Privacy Notice relating to how this data will be used here. The Parish Buying’s privacy notice is available to view here. Both the NCIs and the Diocese of Exeter will have access to aggregate donation values and volumes of captured through your device and, if applicable, your online giving account, which both teams will use to assess the progress of a digital giving project and inform best practice.

Who can I ask for more information about any aspect of this project?

You can get in touch with a member of the Mission Resources team, via the mission.resources@exeter.anglican.org address.

My church has been successful in applying for a contactless donation device

What do I need to do now?

You will have received an email outlining the next steps.

Do I need to tell my church insurance provider about contactless donation device?

This is up to you; most churches tend not to insure items with a value of less than £1000, but your church may have a different approach.

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