The Rev B Reed,
St Andrew's Vicarage,
416 Tonbridge Road,
Maidstone, Kent.
ME16 9LW
Tel. 01622 726245
When I got married I took on responsibilities that I did not have when I was single…
Provision of a home, partnership in the raising of children, contributing to the shared costs of living together.
Council tax, utility bills, some of which were items that I did not actually use but accepted as part of my new life.
In the same way I regard stewardship as one of the ongoing responsibilities that I took up when I became a member
of the Church. I contribute a share towards the costs of the greater family of which
St Andrews is a part.
Compared with other things in this material world The budgetary impact is relatively cheap.
For instance: A Sunday newspaper costs about £1.40 and occupies me for about 1 hour, including the crossword.
A trip to the cinema costs £7.50 for a two hour film, popcorn excluded, and a £10 Easter Egg was demolished by my granddaughter
in 30 seconds flat! Although I must admit that 75% of the cost of the egg must have been wrapping destined for the bin anyway.
Sorry, the rant about unneccessary packaging will have to wait for another time.
If I am prepared to spend those sums on ephemeral items then why does it seem so hard to spend a comparable sum on sharing God's love
with my brothers and sisters in Barming?
I won't be here forever (but it would be nice to see man step on the Moon once more) and
surely Stewardship = Guardianship = Caretaker for the next generation.
Have a think, and a pray. See if you can commit the price of a pie and a pint (or a packet of fags) to the Lord's work.
Where the money goes (Click on a heading for an expanded explanation).
Administration The people who carry out the neccessary administrative, legal, financial and pastoral work of the Diocese. |
500,000 |
Training Curates (College Training, Salary, Housing). Training (OLM's, ALM's & Readers). |
1,260,000 |
Senior Clergy 2 Bishops, 2 Archdeacons and their work of support for parishes and clergy. (The total cost is 400,000 but most is paid by the Church Commissioners and the Cathederal). |
135,000 |
National Church The Diocesan contribution to National Church costs including General Synod. |
135,000 |
Clergy Salary, Pension contributions, Housing, Council Tax,National Insurance, Continuing Training. |
5,250,000 |
Special Ministries Extra Ministry and support to parishes by 2 Diocesan Missioners. Licenced Lay Workers etc. Ministry outside the Parish network such as the chaplaincy at the University of Kent, the Rural Officer and Church in Society. |
135,000 |
Services Church Schools support, Stewardship, Gift Aid, Publishing, Criminal Records and Child Protection, The Diocesan Advisory Committee. |
350,000 |
Ways of giving
| Weekly offering | Committing yourself to a regular offertory sum through the 'envelope' scheme. |
| Gift Aid | If you pay income tax, St Andrews can recover the tax on your giving as an extra donation. |
| Time and Talents | They also serve who mow the grass or clean out the gutters. You can let us know the things you are willing to help with by filling in a Time and Talent form. |
| Legacies. | A bequest can be made "After you've gone". Advice and informative literature is available at a website dedicated to the making and revising of wills |
Forms