Growing number of Parishes register with the PGS
The Parish Giving Scheme was launched across the Diocese of Leeds in January 2020, just before Covid 19 struck. Despite the barriers presented by the pandemic lockdown 25% of our parishes have now registered for the PGS and that number is steadily increasing. Parishes report that regular giving through the PGS has brought them increased financial resilience and our PGS statistics for the Diocese also reflect this with 60% of regular givers opting in to an annual inflationary increase in their giving. This generosity is helping our parishes to continue their mission and face the financial challenges presented by the ever rising costs. The infographic above shows the latest PGS figures for March 2022 in the Diocese of Leeds:
If you would like more information to share with your PCC members on the benefits that the PGS can bring to your parish please email Janet Edmond (Stewardship Officer) at janet.edmond@leeds.anglican.org or tel: 07376 525684 to request a pack of “Parish Giving Scheme Explained” leaflets to be posted to you.
"Trailblazing" Parishes Pilot the PGS
Eleven parishes across the Diocese enthusiastically signed up to take part in the PGS pilot which ran from August until December 2019. At least two parishes from each of our five episcopal areas took part in the pilot and their feedback has very positive. Read some of the feedback below from our pilot parishes on how the PGS has been working for them.
Peter Edwards, from St Mary the Virgin ( Embsay with Eastby)
"Our experience of people signing up has been smooth. We have found that the first 10 people did not need much persuasion to switch to the scheme once they had heard about how it worked and about potential benefits to the parish."
Revd Nigel Sinclair & Treasurer Daryl Kelly from St Margaret's (Horsforth)
"Our experience of the PGS so far has been extremely positive and going better than we might have expected. When we’ve had queries we’ve had very courteous & prompt service from the PGS."
Treasurer Brian Pilkington from All Saints (Pontefract)
"The PGS has had many benefits so far for us. It's made people more aware of regular giving to the church which is a good thing. It's also less administration for the treasurer, which is a very good thing!"
Fr Gary Waddington, Team Rector at St Wilfrid's (Harrogate)
"Out of nearly 100 regular givers that we have here we're aiming to have over 90% of people transfer to the scheme because whether you're a big parish or a small parish, why wouldn't you do something that's going to save people time?"
PGS Pilot Parishes in the Diocese of Leeds
The full list of pilot parishes can be seen in the table below. Durng the pilot phase 101 individual PGS donors joined across the Diocese. Following the PGS launch events in January 2020 the number of parishes and individual donors has continued to rise even during the period of the Coronavirus lockdown. At 1st October 2020 the Diocese 75 parishes have registered for the PGS and there are now more that 570 individual donors and this number continues to rise.
Church |
Pilot Parish |
Episcopal Area |
|---|---|---|
| St John the Evangelist | Baildon | Bradford |
| St Peter | Shipley | Bradford |
| St Margaret | Horsforth | Leeds |
| St Lawrence & St Paul | Pudsey | Leeds |
| St Giles | Bramhope | Leeds |
| All Saints | Pontefract | Wakefield |
| Trinity Church | Ossett | Wakefield |
| St Mary the Virgin | Mirfield | Huddersfield |
| Minster Church of All Saints | Dewsbury | Huddersfield |
| St Wilfrid | Harrogate | Ripon |
| St Mary the Virgin | Embsay with Eastby | Ripon |
Each pilot parish agreed to test the PGS by encouraging approx 10 -15 of their PCC members and congregation to become donors through the PGS and therefore give regularly to their church via direct debit. A few of the parishes started their pilots in August and have quickly found the scheme to be fruitful for them.