How Giving in Grace Transformed St Philip’s Church, Kelsall
Planned giving increased by nearly 20%, enabling the church to meet its parish share and invest in training and youth work.
Location: growing rural village – mixture of old and new families
Congregation: 80
Started Giving in Grace: March 2012
In the heart of the growing rural village of Kelsall, St Philip’s Church faced a challenge familiar to many churches: how to fund their vision for the future. With a congregation of around 80 and a £10,000 budget shortfall, the church needed a new approach to stewardship. In 2012, they turned to the Giving in Grace programme—and the results were transformative.
A Vision for 2020
“In 2011 we put in place Vision 2020 – a vision for what we want our church to be like by 2020,” explained John Diggle, Giving in Grace Co-ordinator. “One of the outcomes of putting this in place was the need for resource—of money, time and talent.”
Giving in Grace became a cornerstone of this vision. The church didn’t just adopt the programme—they made it their own. They created a written case statement, shared it through PowerPoint presentations, and launched a series of prayer cards and sermons focused on giving.
A Culture Shift
The church aimed for more than just financial support. “We set off seeking a shift in culture; and giving time, talents and money a much higher profile in our church,” said John. This included a “Time and Talents” initiative, encouraging members to reflect on how they could serve—whether by continuing, changing, or starting new roles.
A key moment came when the church openly shared its financial situation. “A big turning point was also making people aware that we had a £10,000 shortfall in our budget,” John noted. “Most people said that they had had no idea about it… some admitted that they had never thought about the impact that their giving could have but would take steps to redress that.”
The Power of Personalisation
One of the most effective strategies was differentiation—tailoring communication to individuals. “Everyone needs to be approached individually, according to who they are and where they are in their relationship with St Philip’s,” John emphasized. Personalised letters from the vicar acknowledged each person’s unique connection to the church, whether as a regular worshipper, a parent of a baptised child, or a member of a church group.
This approach not only deepened relationships but also helped build a database for future engagement.
Results That Speak for Themselves
The impact was immediate and encouraging. In their “Gift Array,” the church asked for an additional £192 per week—and received pledges from 70 families and individuals that matched the need exactly. “This we believe to be a manifestation of God’s grace working through many people,” said John.
Planned giving increased by nearly 20%, enabling the church to meet its parish share and invest in training and youth work.
“The Giving in Grace programme has worked the best for us in over 20 years of stewardship initiatives,” John concluded. “The rigour, the comprehensive nature, the accessibility on the website and the insight through prayer… were all most powerful.”