If we expect church members to give to the church then we believe you have a right to know where your money goes. The simple fact is that every penny goes directly into more ministry or into paying for the cost of ministry. All the fine details are available via our annual financial report and regular updates throughout the year.

Of course, being an Anglican church a large part of our giving goes to pay the Parish Share. This is a bit of a money merry-go-round and while it can feel a bit like all our money is disappearing, it's really coming straight back to us ... mostly! The Parish Share system is the Church of England's way of supporting local, diocesan and national ministry. The majority of it in an average sized church will come straight back to pay for the vicar's stipend (that's their wages) and housing. Some more of it will go to pay for the diocesan support staff, administrative staff, people like the diocesan youth worker and Director of Parish Mission, training staff and advisory staff - all the people we turn to week in week out for support in the work we do here at St Thomas'.

Around us are many other anglican churches, some of which are in very difficult situations. As a growing and healthy church some of our Parish Share will go to support those churches which are unable to fund themselves wholly. This principle is a biblical one. In the New Testament we see Paul asking for money to be sent to support him or struggling ministers further afield.

Still further our money goes to support those training for ordination either residentially at one of the Church of England's training colleges or those training locally.

And that's just the Parish Share!

We need to raise far more money than that each year in order to pay for the local costs of ministry (aside from the vicar). Our own support staff, running costs, fuel bills, publicity, mission support, equipment, food, drink, cleaning, gardening ... WOW!!

But that's the detail ... not the PURPOSE!

What's the PURPOSE of giving? The whole purpose of all this is that we can have a church which is preaching the gospel in a world of pain and hurt. The gospel of truth and peace in a world of lies and chaos. The money you give to St Thomas' goes to love our neighbours and draw people into God's kingdom.

There's no price which is too high to being someone to know Jesus. Salvation is the difference between hell and heaven. Salvation is the difference between despair and joy. Salvation is often dependent on the difference between a struggling church and a healthy and vibrant church.

The question for all of us is not how little we can get away with giving, but just how much we can afford to. The money we use in church is the happiest money in the world ... it's money which could never have had a higher purpose and money which could never be spent on anything more precious.