While many rural churches are struggling to stay connected in a digital world, the Diocese of Oxford is running a scheme to help them offer cashless donations.
The loan-to-buy scheme makes contactless donations available to all churches. We can even support rural churches who cannot access Wi-Fi with a portable who do not have access to wifi by providing a portable router, which connects to a phone signal to provide broadband, and the equipment needed for contactless payments. Through the portable Wi-Fi systems, so far all churches – rural and urban – have been enabled to access contactless payments.
Michelle Sinclair, churchwarden at All Saints Church in Goosey, was part of the second round of churches to sign up. She explained: “We live in a very small rural village and the church is the only community space we have left. It is a really important resource both spiritually and physically for our community and people want to support it. However, with only one service a month and fewer people carrying cash with them, we realised we needed to look at other options of how people could financially support keeping our church going.
“Our tiny chapel has basic facilities and doesn’t even have running water, so investing in expensive broadband wasn’t financially possible. But having the contactless terminal with a router means that the congregation and villagers can give regularly, as well as other church users and seasonal visitors.
"There are even options on the machine to set up multiple campaigns, set up regular donations and add Gift Aid to your donations. We were able to use the CollecTin and SumUp at a recent plant, book and cake sale and made £1,300. This is the most we have raised at an event and it was made possible by providing a contactless giving option.”
Michelle and the rest of the church family are hopeful this boost in fundraising will also help towards raising the £35,000 needed for essential repairs to the church. She added: “We have found this option reliable and it has made a positive difference to people donating. Every penny really does count when you’re in a small rural church! During the trial period we raised enough money to buy the CollecTin and router. The success we have seen in using contactless giving at Goosey, has meant that our PCC are now looking at investing in it for other church buildings in our parish.”
Once a church has tried the contactless equipment they are then given the opportunity to buy it from the diocese at a discounted rate of £200, as well as being offered support to set up their own portable wifi solution.
Shirley Palmer, treasurer at Steeple Aston Parochial Church Council (PCC), said while many of the congregation gave regularly through direct debit, visitors to the church or occasional worshippers often didn’t have cash on them to make a contribution.
She added: “During the three-month loan period, we brought in enough extra donations to cover the cost of buying the CollecTin machine, so this made it easy to get the approval from the PCC. Overall, it has made a considerable contribution to our finances and allows people an alternative donation path.”
Generous giving manager Joshua Townson manages the scheme. He said: “The scheme has so far supported 12 churches since November 2023, who have collectively made over £4,500. The fact we have a waiting list demonstrates this is something which is having an impact for rural churches and is needed.”
Contact Joshua for advice on how your church could boost its giving income and to find out more about the loan-to-buy scheme.