Mission and Charitable Giving
“In as much as you did it to the least of these you did it for me.”
Every year the church sets aside a sum of money – about 10% of our income – for ‘Parish Giving’. This money is given to a number of Church and other charities which work with people in many kinds of need both in the UK and overseas. In this way we help to make it possible for those with the necessary skills, whether paid or voluntary, to work on our behalf where the needs are greatest. For example, this may be in supporting families with problems in Sussex, teaching new farming methods in Africa, providing shelter and education for street children in Calcutta, or running a clinic in a church in Baghdad.
The needs are great, and the Mission & Charities Committee of the PCC decides how much should go to which good cause and also keeps in touch with progress.
In 2011 we distributed £11,315 to 24 organisations, including a gift of £5,000 to Help for Heroes as a result of Holy Trinity’s Christmas Tree Festival.) A full schedule of 2011 Grants & Mission Giving is available from the PCC Secretary.
Specific appeals are regularly held, such as ‘Turn on the Tap’ which raised £5,000 for freshwater wells in Cameroon in 2003. Still active in 2010 is an appeal in support of the work of the medical relief charity Merlin in Haiti.
During the past 15 years, the mission and charitable giving of Holy Trinity Church has exceeded £400,000, both by direct giving, special grants and these specific appeals.
