You can help in the vital work of the Friends of St Mary’s by becoming a Friend. Anyone can become a friend (just let us know) and we invite donations. We are now using the Parish Giving Scheme to collect donations, it’s extremely efficient, you remain entirely in control of what you give, and it saves us a great deal of work.

Suggested annual donations are:

• Individual – £15
• Joint – £25
• “John Egerton” donation – £100
• “Walter Scott” donation – £250
• “John Kyrle” donation – £500

If you are a UK tax payer, and can Gift Aid your donation, the Friends will be able to reclaim the tax you have paid, at no extra cost to you. We also urge you to make your donation future proof by ticking the box for index linking.

You can also make a one off donation via PGS. Please note that if you choose to be “anonymous” to us in this process we won’t have you’re email address and can’t contact you.

By becoming a Friend you will:

• Receive a copy of the annual report and accounts of the Friends and be entitled to vote at the AGM
• Become part of a group of like-minded people who care for our heritage and look to the future
• Receive advance notice of concerts and other events connected with the Friends.
• Edgerton, Scott and Kyrle donors are entitled to come along free of charge to most of the social events we organise. (Please let us know on the door).
• Kyrle corporate membership offers free entry to events organised by the Friends for employees. (Please let us know on the door)

Gift Aid it!

If you join the Friends or donate with the link above you will be asked about Gift Aid and the Parish Giving Scheme will collect it from HMRC for us. If you’re making a donation in any other way it would be great if you can add Gift Aid, that way we benefit from an uplift of 25% of your donation at no extra cost to you.

Could you leave us a gift in your will?

Did you know that it’s possible to leave us just 1% of your belongings in your Will?

All you need to mention is our charity number – 1121282 and the name of our charity – THE FRIENDS OF ST MARY’S CHURCH ROSS-ON-WYE

Please note that all the guidance below is not legal advice and you must take legal advice from a solicitor.

The Friends of St Mary’s would be delighted if you felt able to leave us a gift in your will to help ensure that our beautiful and ancient church building remains for future generations. It is an excellent way to support us as it is both tax free and can reduce the value of your taxable estate.

The Importance of a Will

Even if you have no relatives or friends for whom you might wish to provide, it is important that you leave a will to maintain control over what happens to your belongings. If you die without making a will, there are circumstances in which everything you own passes to the State. If you have already made your will, you can amend it at any time but to ensure that it is legally binding, consult your solicitor or other suitably qualified person.

Inheritance Tax

Inheritance Tax at a rate of 40% is payable on any amount you leave over £325,000 (2021) for a single person (double for those married or in Civil Partnerships). Gifts to charities are not taxable and your legacy can be used as a means of reducing your estate to a level below the Inheritance Tax threshold.

You may also like to know that If you give at least 10% of the taxable portion of your estate (the part exceeding £325,000) to charities (or a single charity) the rate of IHT on the excess is reduced to 36% rather than the standard 40%.  That means that the residuary beneficiaries of the estate can, in effect, make substantial charitable donations at a discount, HMRC making, in effect, a contribution to the gift.

Your solicitor, financial advisor or accountant will advise you.

Types of gift

There are three types of gift that may be appropriate: the Residual Legacy, Specific Legacy and Life Interest (which benefits the charity after the death of someone to whom you left a life interest in your property). Before proceeding with any of these you should, of course, consult your solicitor or other suitably qualified person.

Making a will

AGE UK has some helpful advice on making a will and leaving a legacy.