If you wish to make standing order payments the link provides the St. John Payne Bank details you will need. Most people find it easiest to complete the standing order details on line at their own bank and it is easiest for us too. If you do that please make sure you account name is clear, but also notify greenstead@dioceseofbrentwood.org of your intention and don’t forget to complete the gift aid form. It is a good idea to periodically check that the standing order payments are actually being made.

Gift Aid allows the Parish to claim back the basic rate tax already paid on donations by the donor.  This means we can claim back from the government on your behalf 25p for every £1 donated at no extra cost to you, boosting the value of the donation by a quarter.  If you are not a tax payer then we cannot claim gift aid so it is important that you let us know if your tax status changes.

Thank you for considering leaving a gift for the Parish of St. John Payne.  There are 3 main types of gift that you can leave:

• Pecuniary – a specific sum of money
• Residuary – some or all of your estate once your family and friends have been looked after
• Specific – such as an item of jewellery

If you do not already have a Will then you should strongly consider making one.  Making it clear how you’d like your estate to be distributed can save everyone a lot of worry and can help avoid disputes and administrative problems for your executors.  Wills are best made using a lawyer, a professional Will writer or some charities will offer free Will drafting.  Making your own Will is possible and kits can be bought, but it is easy to make mistakes silly mistakes which can negate the whole Will.

If you are writing a Will and plan to leave something to St. John Payne Catholic Parish, you need to include the charity’s full name, address and registered charity number (St. John Payne Catholic Parish, 21 Blackthorn Ave, Colchester CO4 3QD, Brentwood Diocesan Trust, Registered Charity no.234092).

If you already have a Will then you don’t need to write and pay for a new Will if you wish to leave the Parish a gift.  There are two main options.

• The first is a letter of wishes, which is a confidential document that accompanies a Will. It lists specific items that you wish to give.  A letter of wishes can be altered without changing your Will.  However, unlike a Will, a letter of wishes is not legally binding, so you’d need a trusted person to carry out your requests.  If the amounts are significant, you’d be advised to keep them in your Will by making a Codicil.
• If you wish to amend a Will without having to write a new one you, you can make an amendment called a Codicil. If the amendment is complex you may be better to start again with a new Will.  Suggested wording for a Codicil to a Will is given below, but expert advice is recommended.

I give the residue of my estate to the Roman Catholic Parish of St. John Payne Greenstead, 21 Blackthorn Ave, Colchester CO4 3QD (Brentwood Diocesan Trust Registered Charity no. 234092) for its general charitable purposes.  I further direct that the receipt of the Parish Treasurer or other proper officer of the said charity for the time being shall be a full and sufficient discharge for the said gift.

In all other respects I confirm my said Will and any existing Codicils thereto.

I give the sum of £…….. (or the item specified) to the Roman Catholic Parish of St. John Payne Greenstead, 21 Blackthorn Ave, Colchester CO4 3QD (Brentwood Diocesan Trust Registered Charity no. 23409) for its general charitable purposes.  I further direct that the receipt of the Parish Treasurer or other proper officer of the said charity for the time being shall be a full and sufficient discharge for the said gift.

In all other respects I confirm my said Will and any existing Codicils thereto.