Wording for Your Will If you would like to leave a gift of money or of an item to your local parish church, please see some example wording for will clauses below. No matter how large or small, a gift in a will can make a huge difference to your parish and it is completely up to you in what way you wish to give. Any gift in a will, which can be used to meet the ongoing needs of the parish. You can if you wish set out in your will how you would like your parish to use your gift, for example for repairs and development of parish buildings; parish activities; or evangelisation. It is best not to be too specific. If for example you left a gift to your parish “to repair the organ” and either the organ did not need repair or had been removed, the parish would not be able to take that gift. Getting the Wording Right It is always best to seek proper legal advice from a qualified solicitor when drawing up your will or changing your existing will. Below are examples of wording for the different types of gifts which can be left in a will. As each parish is part of the single charity which is the Archdiocese of Birmingham, it is wise to refer to that charity number in your will. This is to ensure that your gift goes to the correct place. A gift of a set amount of money I give to the Archdiocese of Birmingham, Registered Charity Number 234216, based at Cathedral House, St Chad’s Queensway Birmingham, the sum of £___________ to be used for the parish of St ______________ in _______________ to meet the ongoing needs of the parish. A gift of a proportion of what is left after all debts, other gifts and expenses have been paid I give to the Archdiocese of Birmingham, Registered Charity Number 234216, based at Cathedral House, St Chad’s Queensway Birmingham, ____% of my estate (after all debts, legacies, Inheritance Tax and administration costs have been paid) to be used for the parish of St ______________ in _______________ to meet the ongoing needs of the parish. A gift of a specific item I give to the Archdiocese of Birmingham, Registered Charity Number 234216, based at Cathedral House, St Chad’s Queensway Birmingham, stocks/shares/property to be used for the Parish of St ______________ in _______________ to meet the ongoing needs of the Parish. A gift of a specific item should be used with care as if you dispose of the item or property, then the gift is not effective. Whichever form of gift is chosen, the following clause should also be added, as sometimes charities merge or change their legal status and charity number: If, at my death, the charity named above (Original Charity) no longer exists or is being wound up, my Trustees must: (a)if the Original Charity has merged, or is about to merge, with another charity (Recipient Charity) and the merger, when completed, is registered in the official register of mergers maintained by the Charity Commission, pay the Recipient Charity the amount specified above as being payable to the Original Charity; or (b)if clause (a) above does not apply, pay the amount specified above as being payable to the Original Charity to another charity that has objects similar to the Original Charity. Benefits to Others The Government supports gifts to charities by people in their wills and any such gift is free of Inheritance Tax. This means that when your executors are calculating whether any Inheritance Tax is payable on your estate at the time of your death, they do not have to take into account any amount which you give to the Church. Further information can be found through the Money Advice Service Getting Advice For advice on writing your will we recommend you speak to your solicitor. We are happy to liaise with them regarding wording, and can be reached on the number below. If you are considering leaving a gift to the Church, keep a look out for a copy of the leaflet ‘Leaving a Lasting Gift to your Church’ in your local parish. For more information or if you would like to discuss leaving a gift in your will, please email us at: [email protected] Manage Cookie Preferences