Longer Term Funding for Repairs
Increasingly, public bodies as well as congregations consider that it is poor stewardship to wait until the needs of the fabric can be ignored no longer, and then to launch a big public appeal. Regular maintenance is vital. But it is prudent also to consider the longer term strategy to avoid future crises.
In particular it is sensible to consider how the burden of maintaining the fabric might be spread beyond the PCC and the regular churchgoers.
The Perpetual Fabric Fund
The idea of a Perpetual Fabric Fund (PFF) is to provide a capital fund to which anyone can contribute in the knowledge that their money can only be spent on the fabric of the church concerned. It is an arrangement which may attract substantial gifts or legacies from non-churchgoers - people who are reluctant to contribute to general PCC funds, but who are willing to support the bricks and mortar of a particular church. There are now a number of these funds in operation. Further details should be available from the diocesan office.
Friends Organisation
Another approach is to create a "Friends" group - people who do not necessarily worship in the church on a regular basis but are anxious that the building be maintained. Subscriptions from the Friends can be used to maintain the building and fabric. Members of "Friends" organisations can in time be drawn more fully into supporting the life and worship of the church. The Diocese of Canterbury produces an excellent book called A Friends Scheme for a Parish Church (£5.00) which is available from the Stewardship Adviser at:
Diocesan House
Lady Wootton's Green
Canterbury
Kent
CT1 1NQ
Tel 01227 459401
FAX 01227 450964
"Friends" organisations can be either under the umbrella of the PCC or registered as a separate charity. The organisation can make a grant of funds to the PCC in order that the elected representatives of the congregation have responsibility for spending this without restriction. It is always useful to discuss the proposed trust deed with the Charity Commission, as well as the local diocese. Note that major grant givers will usually only make grants available to the PCC, as the body with legal responsibility for the building.
Also see Tool 7 in the Rural Toolkit on the Parish Resources website for brief information on Friends Schemes.
Diocesan Church Repair fund
The Diocese of Rochester operates a system whereby the inspecting architect, producing the Quinquennial Inspection Report, gives an estimate of the anticipated cost of repairs in five years' time. After the addition of an allowance for inflation, an annual sum is then notified to the PCC and it is suggested that the amount be paid over the five-year period into a fund held by the Diocese. Interest is added and when the next QI report is produced this money is made available to the PCC to help meet the cost of immediate repairs. Contact your Diocesan Office to discuss such a scheme.
March 2003 & November 2007
