Legacies - Yesterday, today and forever

In Spring 2007, every PCC was asked to consider how to use the new Church of England legacy gift materials. Many churches would be delighted to receive a legacy from a former worshipper.

Making a bequest to the Church in your Will can be the culmination of a lifetime's giving.

This is a sensiitive subject, and the website www.churchlegacy.org.uk may be of help.

Facts and figures	Encouraging legacies	Making your Will?

Some facts and figures

Higher house prices have meant much more money changing hands as a result of death: in the last ten years there has been a rise from £16 billion to £40 billion a year.
Only one in eight Wills leave any money to a charity.	Two-thirds of people living in the South West have not made a Will. Only one-quarter of the population under 44 makes a Will. Half of those between 45 and 64 do so. Two thirds of those over 65 have made a Will.
There were 220 bequests made to parishes in Bath and Wells in the year 2004. The average bequest was just over £4,300

Making your Will?

The Church 's legacy website includes details of some helpful leaflets. There is also a free confidential helpline you can ring if you'd like advice about how to leave a gift to your church in your will.

The resources explain clearly how to include a legacy in your Will, and offer advice on how you can make sure your Will reflects your desire to support your parish church's mission and ministry after you die.

'And if he have not before disposed of his goods, let him then be admonished to make his Will...

...men should often be put in remembrance to take order for the settling of their temporal estates, whilst they are in health.'

Order for the Visitation of the Sick,
Book of Common Prayer

Note: you should always take advice from a solicitor when making your Will.

Encouraging legacies

A parish wishing to encourage people to make bequests to the Church in their will must act with sensitivity. Appeals from the pulpit or a blanket distribution of literature may give offence.	Does your PCC have a legacy policy?	We recommend that the PCC makes and publicises a policy explaining what the church will do with any money that is given as a gift in someone's will
PCC Secretaries already have leaflets about agreeing a legacy policy. More resources, including sample leaflets for distribution in the parish are available from the legacy website.

Good Practice and Ideas