LAST month I reviewed our Church Attendance numbers using the latest returns completed by parishes for 2009.
We also receive financial returns from parishes, completed by treasurers from the annual accounts, and with 80 per cent of these now in for 2009 we can explore them in more detail.
We all know the importance of our regular giving to our churches. This is generally recognised in accounts as unrestricted and includes planned giving, the tax recovered, collections and nonspecific donations. In 2009, it is likely to average 62% of all PCC income; in 2007 this ratio was 61% and in 2008 was 59% so this confirms that it makes up a sizeable proportion of an average PCC's annual income. We will call this percentage the Giving Ratio. However, how does it vary from parish to parish? Are some parishes much less dependant on it than others? With 80% of the financial returns in for 2009 it is possible to start to examine these questions.
It has been possible to match together the membership and financial details for 375 parishes. Their Parish Shares make up 79% of the total for the year and we therefore have a large, wellbalanced, sample. I've divided these parishes into four equally sized groups, based on the latest regular membership numbers, and for each group examined the variation from parish to parish the ratio of regular giving to total income (the Giving Ratio). By choosing five ranges of Giving Ratio it has been possible to assign each parish to a range; then for each group of parishes to give the percentage of its parishes in each range as shown in the table.
The variation in Giving Ratio between parishes is quite marked, although the majority are in the 41%-60% and 61%-80% ranges. However, in all the groups, about 1 in 5 parishes have a ratio of over 80% and are extremely dependant on the regular support of their members, whilst 1 in 5 of the very small parishes with ratios of less than 40% and are less dependant.
For all but a few parishes, regular giving is a vital component of PCC income and the Parish Finance Office (01245 294430) is able to provide much valuable advice on how to safeguard and improve this source of income.
Canon Don Cardy
1st Sept 2010