Mass Collection
In times past the farming communities, having brought the Harvest home, gave their tithe to the church – a share of the crops they had gathered. In modern times we are not farmers and so share what we have – our money.
We cannot keep the gospel message to ourselves, it has to be shared. Giving money to the church helps spread the gospel message – helps it to be shared.
Stewardship is about our commitment to God and the Church.
We should give willingly and with joy.
Our stewardship of the Church, in addition to the provision of the sacraments through worship and liturgy - also involves maintaining the fabric of the church, the concrete, the bricks and mortar, the roof, the furnishings, the lighting and the heating – the list is as long as the list of things that we need to do at home to maintain our homes in good order. And also, as at home, there is never too much money – there always seem to be a shortage.
Here at Holy Cross, Catford we encourage giving through the Gift Aid Scheme. For every 80 pence you give to the church we claim back from the Government the Basic Rate of Income Tax of 20 pence that you have already paid from your salary, pension or other income.
For example a donation of £8 becomes £10!
The Gift Aid scheme is quite simple – you formalise your giving by agreeing to pay by monthly standing order direct from your bank account or give using a Gift Aid Envelope.
£8 or £80 given anonymously through the offertory basket is gratefully received. But given through the Gift Aid Scheme becomes £10 or £100,
at no cost to you – provided you are a UK taxpayer.
Standing order and gift aid declaration forms are available here, at the contact corner table as also are the Gift Aid Envelopes inside the church.
Gift Aid
Under UK Tax Law, charities can reclaim the basic rate tax deducted from the donations, offerings and regular giving received from UK taxpayers.
Holy Cross Church, Catford is a part of the R C Archdiocese of Southwark which is a Registered Charity No. 1173050.
Monetary gifts have to be identifiable; we must know who the gift is from and the donor (giver) must agree that the donation (giving) is to be treated as received under the Gift Aid Scheme.
An offering of £10 (under Gift Aid) becomes £12.50 when we, the Church, claim the 20% tax deducted from your gross income.