As a church, we would love not to have to talk about money but unfortunately, we can't avoid the topic. The reality is that we wouldn't be here if it wasn't for generous donations received from both the congregation and supporters overseas. We are completely self-supporting. We normally hold some events throughout the year to raise money so we can continue to be there for people and provide an Anglican presence in this part of the world.
During and after the pandemic, we are having to adapt our fund raising and it has become even more important for us to collect donations online to ensure the future of our chaplaincy. There is no expectation that anyone should pay anything that they can't afford.
How can you support us?
The first and most important way, is to remember us in your prayers. As well as financial help, the people of the Costa Brava volunteer their time and talents in the service of others. If you are able to help us financially, there are two very simple options........
- Click the button below to use your credit card - Or pay direct into the bank - we get the full amount with no fees taken off with this method! Scroll further down for details.
Carol's Talk about funding in the chaplaincy What I’m going to talk to you all about is a very sensitive subject, DONATIONS; donations towards the continued running of our Chaplaincy. I’m going to ask you all a question and I would like you to respond by raising your hand - Do you value this Chaplaincy? ?????? That was the response I was hoping for.
We find ourselves in a very difficult situation, although we do have savings, sadly we are losing capital every year.
We also of course realise that this is a very difficult time for us all, some perhaps more then others however the fact is, that the way things are going financially within our chaplaincy right now means that we will not be able to continue for many years more. We are very lucky in that we have a few people who are able at the moment to be extremely generous with their donations but I’m asking on behalf of our church council if some more people could find a way to be more generous.
Another reason that we have a problem is down to the fact that due to Covid, holding fund raising events has been thwarted to say the least, leading to a significant loss of income. We have contributed in a small way with the quiz but by not being able to hold our usual events has exacerbated the problem. Covid also contributed in no small way to us having to let go of Church House and Rachel having to return to the UK. Financially it was the right decision but it also means that we have no base to hold certain of our events, the great British lunch is one example which became a very popular social event and a pleasant way to boost the funds.
I do have some hopeful news though and that is that we are going to try and resume the Fairs but in a much more low key way.
Going back to the fact that we need to increase our donations to secure our future here. We are entirely self sufficient and it’s hard, We receive no funding from the Church of England, in fact we have to give a serious amount of money to them, last year it was €4,850.
I have more Financial information to hand from David Hurley our Treasurer so please do ask me later if there’s any further detail you would like to know and i will do my best to answer.
Before I close I will leave you with a few facts - To run a weekly service on zoom costs approximately €155. To hold a live service costs us nearly €1,000 per service.
Our offertory on average for Lloret is €200 and for Madremanya €300, a combined total of €500, leaving a huge shortfall every time Rachel visits. Our total income for 2023 is budgeted to be 21,500 euros. Based on last year’s details, our income comes from:
Offertory 22%: from physical services Fees 3%: that’s weddings etc: Donations from the UK were 40% and given by 8 people Donations from Spain were 26% of which nearly half came from just two people So, between the UK and Spain over half of our donations in 2022 came from just10 people. Fund raising 9%: the quiz
May I remind those of you who are Spanish taxpayers of the benefit of you claiming tax relief on your donations and also about the envelope system that keeps a track of your donations. Please talk to David Wilkinson about these.
UK taxpayers need do nothing as a tax benefit of 25% of their donation is automatically reclaimed from the Inland Revenue by the Chaplaincy through the Gift Aid scheme.
We do have a Sum Up machine here in church for anyone who wishes to donate with a credit or debit card; please see Goncal. You can also donate online, please refer to the website under FUNDING. Sadly the giving of coins in the offertory is also a problem these days in that the banks no longer accept them so we have to adjust things accordingly, but don’t worry today if you have coins we’re grateful.
Sorry to be so blunt but, if we are to secure Rachel’s presence here (or indeed any Priest) we need to be fully aware of the situation and join together to solve the problem or we may not be sitting here together for very much longer.
Donate Online
An easy way to send a donation to help ministry in the Costa Brava - thank you!
Pay direct into the bank We get the full amount with no fees taken off if you use this method! You could also set up a recurring wire transfer - just check with your bank. To use a credit card instead, please see further down.
The bank details for payments in Euros are:
Banco Sabadell, Carrer del port, L'Escala 17130 Account name: Comunion Anglicana de la Costa Brava Account number: ES62 0081 1718 6100 0105 2310.
The bank details for payments in English Pounds are:
This will open up a new page. This will work if your account is either in euros or sterling. If the latter, the bank statement will show the equivalent in sterling, of the amount donated in Euros. Would you please email our Treasurer ([email protected]) and let him know, as the system doesn't show us the name of the person who has donated. Thank you. Please see our Treasurer's document on the left for Gift Aid information in Spain and the UK. Thank you.
More Ways to Donate - And fiscal advantages
There are a number of ways you can help our church through a donation.
If you attend one of our services there is a collection plate. We can also accept payments by debit or credit card at our services. Please speak to the wardens.
If you are a UK taxpayer then you can greatly help our church by making a monthly direct debit to our bank account with the Diocese in the UK. It is a very simple process to set up the direct debit from £5 per month upwards. For every £1 you donate the Inland Revenue gives us 25p back, so if for example you were to donate £20 per month, that is £240 in a year, then the Inland Revenue will give us £60, thus making your donation worth £300 to us.
If you are a Spanish taxpayer you are entitled to claim tax relief on your annual donations, and so we keep a record of your donations through the year, and our treasurer will give you a form signed by the Chaplain each year confirming your annual donation that has been filed with the Hacienda and so claimable on your tax return. So, if you gave say 20 euros per month, which is 240 euros in a year, and the tax rate is 20%, then you would be able to claim 48 euros back from the Hacienda.
If you would like to become a regular cash donor, then we operate an envelope system which enables you to donate as regularly as you wish. The envelopes are a pack of 52, one a week through the year, to be used as you wish. Please speak with our treasurer.
If you are a UK taxpayer but would rather donate in Spain then you simply use the envelope system and put your envelopes in the offertory at the next service you attend. Our treasurer keeps a record of your donations and sends the money to the UK each quarter to have the 25% tax reclaimed by the Diocese.
You can make a donation to our bank account, (click above) and dependent on your tax status we may be able to claim some tax relief.
Why not save your small change and when you have a reasonable sum then pass it to our treasurer for banking?
If you wish to donate through any of the above suggestions, please contact our treasurer David Hurley at [email protected] and he will be able to help you.
We are most grateful for your interest and for the donations made. Thank you
Sermon on Giving On Sunday 25th August 2019, the Revd Alison Maddocks, Stewardship Officer in Worcester Diocese, preached at our service in Madremanya. She outlined a biblical basis for giving and you can hear her sermon here.