Many people think that churches are funded by the national Church of England but this is not the case. All Saints is funded entirely by its congregation and the wider local community. It is this money, raised through the church collections, local fundraising activities and donations, which keeps the church alive. And there is never quite enough! It costs at least £175 per day just to keep the Church running. Repairs and improvements are additional costs.

The total income is the sum of all these sources. It is then divided to serve the various aspects of the running of the church.

Where does the money go?

The Parish Share is a levy which All Saints (and every other church) is required to pay to the Diocese every year. This money is pooled and is used by the Diocese to pay for administration, salaries and pensions for the Clergy and the general expenditure of the Church of England in its wider sense. The amount each church pays is assessed according to the size of the congregation and the Parish Register.

Running costs – Some material and much work is contributed by volunteers but, of course, there are materials and services which have to be paid for including organists, insurance, water charges, heating and lighting, plumbing, drainage, groundwork and the churchyard costs. Also ongoing maintenance of the building, the bells, clocks and organ, fire extinguishers, and the roof alarm.

Professional services such as the five yearly architect’s survey, tree surgeons, electrical testing all have to be paid as well.

Where does it come from?
The main source of the church’s income is the weekly giving of the congregation and other donations such as visitors’ donations and occasional legacies. Please contact the Treasurer via the Contact page if you are interested in these ways of giving. There is also a regular payment made by the telephone company for their telephone ‘mast’ inside the church tower, and occasional fees for weddings and funerals.

You can also make a donation to All Saints’ when shopping online.

In addition there is income from fundraising by the Events Committee which organises a series of activities which raise money to help with church expenses The Annual Fete, Quiz Nights, Christmas Fayre, the Harvest Festival Lunch and Auction are typical examples.

You can see a copy of the church accounts here

Major repairs, restoration and improvements to the facilities are funded and carried out by the Friends of All Saints who apply for grants to match their local fundraising. This includes such things as: the installation of the kitchen and toilet in 2009; the renovation of the walls and windows in 2011, 2013 and 2021/2; and repairs to the churchyard wall in 2022.

And there is always something unexpected that has to be managed and paid for. A one metre collapse of a churchyard wall turns into four meters of repair, as other weaknesses are revealed!

The Friends of All Saints organise fund raising events during the year such as the Sunday Teas, the Flying Teddies, Skittles Night, etc.
The income from the Friends events is directed specifically to the costs incurred in the maintenance and upkeep of the fabric of the church.

Grants – There are some charitable funds who give grants to help defray some of the cost of repairing and improving ancient buildings and applications to them are made wherever possible.