Gifts in Wills
A charitable legacy is a gift of money, property or an item left in a Will. This type of giving to charity is commonly referred to as Gifts in Wills. Gifts in Wills can be left to parish churches, cathedrals and dioceses and are exempt from inheritance tax.
Each year around 4,000 people leave a gift in their will to their church, funding mission projects, maintaining beautiful church buildings and growing faithful communities. For many people, leaving a gift in their will is a final opportunity to make a lasting gift to God.
Watch our latest Legacy Webinar here
St Michael’s Alphington legacy story
One of the best ways is to share stories of the impact of a legacy and what leaving a legacy will mean to your church, how your church will benefit from it like the stories from Alphington below.
How to Encourage Legacy giving in your parish
Many church members would like to know how to leave a gift to the Church, though they may be reticent to ask. Discover some practical steps your parish can take.
Why every Christian should have a Will
The Church of England has partnered with Farewill, the UK’s favourite Will writer, to offer a free online Will writing service which you can do from the comfort of your home in less than 30 minutes. Will writing can often seem like a time-consuming and difficult thing to do – and that’s a big reason why many people put it off.
Making a Will and keeping it updated is the only way to make sure your wishes are carried out after your death, giving you peace of mind that you can continue to support the family, friends and charities you love.
Guidance on receiving a Legacy
If a Parochial Church Council (PCC) is a named beneficiary in a will, the PCC are responsible for liaising with the Executor to administer the gift correctly, and ensure they use the funds for their charitable Christian Ecclesiastical purposes.
There are more resources and tips in the Church Legacy section of the Church of England website.
Please contact us if you would like any help or you want to share your stories and experiences.
