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Will you leave a will?

A new range of legacy materials for parishes to encourage people to leave a gift in their will has been launched through the National Stewardship Committee’s “Good Practice” programme. Accompanied by a dedicated website and a national information line, 08445 870875, these resources make it easy for parishes to promote legacy giving, yet still offering flexibility for parishes to customise leaflets if they wish.

For nearly five hundred years -since Cranmer encouraged clergy visiting the sick to “admonish” them to make a will – the Church of England has talked about the importance of making a will. Dr John Preston, the National Stewardship Officer, comments: “The first priority is simply to encourage people to make a will and review it regularly. Whether or not they leave a gift to the church, having an up-to-date will is an important part of personal stewardship.”

Parishes are being encouraged to make a simple policy on legacies, and communicate it to their community so that potential donors can see how the parish would use their gift. A sample policy along with a leaflet for PCCs is offered on the Church Legacy Website: www.churchlegacy.org.uk.