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The Vicarage 8th April 2026 |
Dear Friends and Supporters,
GIFT DAY 2026
One of the ongoing challenges of parish life is the simple but vital question of finances. Like many churches, St Michael’s is facing rising costs at a time when the cost of living is increasing for us all. I am often asked, “How much does it actually cost each week to keep St Michael’s going?” When we look at our everyday running costs — setting aside major projects such as the under-pew heaters and the new lighting system — the answer is around £2,500 per week.
That is a considerable sum, and I want to say immediately how deeply grateful we are to everyone who already supports St Michael’s financially. You should take real pride in how generously our church is sustained, and in all that your giving enables us to offer to our parish and community.
However, current forecasts show that we now need a significant increase in our income. We have already had to inform the diocese that, at present, we cannot guarantee paying our parish share in full this year. Parish share, which is paid to Oxford, returns directly to us in many ways — supporting clergy stipends and housing, and funding the essential diocesan services that underpin parish life.
With this in mind, the Parochial Church Council warmly invites everyone who holds St Michael’s in their hearts to consider the following:
• The Parish Giving Scheme (PGS) offers a simple and effective way to give regularly by direct debit. It saves the church both time and expense, and – importantly – Gift Aid is calculated and claimed automatically within days. You’ll find full details of how to join in another attachment with this letter, and we encourage you to do so if you are able.
• Those already using the Parish Giving Scheme may choose to increase their contribution by contacting PGS directly on 0333 002 1260. Any increase, whether you have opted for annual increases or not, would make a meaningful difference and would be greatly appreciated.
• Gift Day this year will take place on Saturday 25 April, the same weekend as our Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM). In the weeks leading up to Gift Day, pledge forms will be distributed. These may be returned on the day, between 11.00am and 1.00pm, in an envelope containing cash or cheque, or as a pledge for a bank payment. Pledges may also be returned during services on the following Sundays.
• Legacies are another way some members of the congregation choose to support the future of St Michael’s by remembering the church in their will. Further information on this option is included in another attachment. While we certainly hope not to lose any members of our church family for a very long time to come, I encourage you to prayerfully consider whether this might be right for you.
Download Legacies Leaflet
As we begin work on the lighting project, the Parochial Church Council and I would like to express our heartfelt thanks for the generous support already given toward this vital improvement. What we now ask is your help in meeting the everyday costs that allow St Michael’s to continue its worship, pastoral care, and service to the wider community.
Please take time to prayerfully reflect on how you might help support St Michael’s at this time. Every gift, pledge, and prayer truly matters — and together, we can ensure that our church remains a welcoming and flourishing presence for generations to come.
With best regards,
The Revd Canon Ainsley Swift - The Vicar of Bray
