Giving
Grace is a strong community serving each other, our town and further afield. We are entirely self-funded by gifts from people like you, who call Grace their church family.
Giving financially, regularly and sacrificially to your church family allows us to sustain our life together as a community, support all our developed and emerging ministries, sharing the good news of Jesus and giving to the poor and vulnerable in the town and beyond.
Hi my name is Neil and I oversee finance at Grace.
If you would like to know more about giving at Grace, our financial accountability and oversight - get in touch with me.
Neil Gillies, Grace Finance Team
How can I give to Grace?
You can give to Grace via the offering box on a Sunday, via Bank transfer and Standing Orders.
Grace Community Church bank details
Account name: Grace Community Church Bedford
Account no: 34688676
Sort code: 60–12–45
Name of bank: NatWest Bedford
Gift Aid at Grace
As a UK registered charity, the Church benefits from Gift Aid. Nearly all our regular donors fill out a Gift Aid Declaration which enables us to increase their gifts by 25%. In the last financial year, these donations totalled £325,000 and resulted in the Church receiving another £82,000 in Gift Aid. Together, these represented 90% of the Church's income. A Gift Aid Declaration can be downloaded here.
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You must be a UK taxpayer.
You need to have paid at least as much in Income Tax or Capital Gains Tax as the amount we, and any other charities you make donations to, claim. If not, HMRC may ask you to repay the difference.
Donations must be made in your own name and not on behalf of someone else or as part of a joint Declaration.
You need to keep Grace informed of any changes in your circumstances, such as a change of name, address, or if you are no longer a taxpayer.
It’s a great privilege to serve God by giving of our time, skills and money, all in response to his giving up his most treasured Son, Jesus.
Starting to give
Where do I start if I’m not giving regularly?
A good place to start is, just to start… We know from many areas of life, that the first step, is often the hardest.
If you are just starting out on your journey of giving to God’s work - there are some really helpful resources below, to help you work through what that looks like in your own life:
Money and the Gospel: Download this free guide here and explore some key principles of Christian giving. Written by John Stott, the guide is a reflection on 2 Corinthians 8-9. This resource will help you think more clearly about what it means to be a generous Christian.
Stewardship: A wide selection of interesting blogs and resources here including ‘how much should I give’ - to get you thinking.
Getting started is often the hardest part… could you begin by giving the cost of a coffee / week?
Could you consider starting to give £20, £30 or £40 per month?
What about prayerfully planning to tithe in the year ahead? What would giving 10% of your income look like?
Growing in generosity
If you’re giving regularly, but not tithing.
Throughout history God’s people have sought to give the first tenth (10%) of their income back to God. This is partly an act of worship and gratitude, and partly to fund the work of the Lord.
We believe this principle is a good one, and something to which every believer should aspire.
What would giving 10% of your income look like? What sacrifices would it mean making?
How can I plan to tithe? What advice or specific steps to I need to take?
Do I need inspiring to be more generous… check out the resources below.
Radical generosity
If you’re already tithing.
As we follow Jesus, we see that He didn’t give out of obligation—He loved the church so deeply that He gave Himself for her. Romans 8:32 says, “He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also graciously give us all things?”
These truths remind us that following Jesus isn’t just about dutiful giving, but embracing a life of radical generosity.
What does being radically generous look like for you? What is a specific action I can take to reflect this?
How will my money outlast me? Have you thought long term about leaving a legacy to God’s work in your will?
Giving generously
FAQs
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Our finances are overseen by a team led by Chris Almond. Chris is the Elder responsible for finances and oversees the Finance Team which comprises part-time employees and volunteers.
Chris says., “Our main team aim is to ensure that the Grace finances are managed in a way that honours God. In particular, that the recording processes are efficient, effective and full of integrity and that the finances of Grace are sufficiently transparent. That the income is enough to meet Grace’s objectives and that expenditures are properly authorised and controlled.”
For more information about financial oversight at Grace, please email him here.
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We want to be both wise and generous with our money - read more about ways we can do that here
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If you would like more information about making a Will to include Grace and/or any other Christian work, Nic Pestell, offers advice and a basic Will writing service to Grace Community Church members free of charge.
Download Legacies and Wills here
