You can give via Stewardship.org.uk. This 120-year-old organisation helps Christians to plan their giving either to their own church or to all the charities they support financially. It is as simple to set up as any of the other routes to making regular donations, but simplifies and makes more reliable the work we must do in accounting for everyone’s regular donations. Another advantage is that all giving through Stewardship.org.uk can be anonymised.

Many of us opt for giving by standing order. A monthly standing order is preferred, as the bills must be paid each month, but quarterly, six-monthly and annual may suit some people better. You can create or amend a standing order via online banking or your banking app. Alternatively, please complete this form and return it to your bank. Our bank details are:

The Church of St. John the Evangelist, Princes Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4BJ

A/C No. 00228812,

Sort Code 80-31-20 

At Bank of Scotland, Edinburgh George Street (804635), EH2 2YR

As personal banking options have become more sophisticated the use of our monthly envelope scheme has declined. However, if this is the best method for you to make regular contributions, then it remains an option.

There is a card machine at the back of the church and the collection plates used during services incorporate a card reader. However, this is not the best way to give as a regular member of St John’s. This is because we are unable to identify the donor and cannot reclaim Gift Aid on most of such donations. We can only recover the tax already paid on anonymous small donations up to a total of £8,000 each year and we already exceed this sum. As the tax repayment amounts to £25 for every £100 donated, regular members, who are taxpayers, are strongly encouraged to use a tax-efficient route for their giving.

As mentioned above, the UK Government has a scheme called Gift Aid that allows churches and charities to reclaim the tax you have already paid on such donations at the standard tax rate. Currently this is worth 25% on top of your donation. A Gift Aid Declaration Form can be found here.