Last year, the National Giving Team with nfpResearch, conducted a survey of 2,000 Anglicans to discover more about their giving habits. This has provided some good news for our churches and has helped give a focus to strengthen stewardship over the next few years and build healthy and sustainable churches.
The survey questioned 2,000 individuals who identify as Anglicans and attend a church at least once a month, repeating a survey conducted in 2020. These individuals came from across the country and from a mix of demographic and theological backgrounds, suggesting that it’s possible to apply their findings to our own churches within the Diocese of Worcester.
In good news, the average weekly donation has increased faster than inflation. In 2020, the average weekly gift was £14.72, and this has increased to £19.83 (it would have only increased to £18.30 with inflation). This shows that mechanisms like the Parish Giving Scheme are having an impact and that, though times are tough for many people, they are still financially committed to their churches. The survey also discovered that those between the ages of 25 and 44 are the most likely to give to their church and are likely to give higher amounts and a higher percentage of their income.
We have also seen an increase in the number of people being thanked for their giving in the past six months, increasing from 58% in 2020 to 76% in 2025. Individuals are more likely to give if they feel that their gift is valued and this research shows that not only are we thanking people more, but also that the quality of the thanks is improving. If you are not yet thanking your congregations regularly for their giving, please think about small gestures like a personalised thank you card that can have a huge impact on your givers and make them feel valued.
The survey saw an increase in the number of people who had heard a sermon about giving in the past six months, increasing from 53% in 2020 to 67% in 2025. The impact of these sermons has also improved, with 23% of people now saying that the sermon changed their thinking a lot, compared to 5% in 2020. Preaching about generosity is very important as it not only directly asks the congregation to give but also inspires and disciples the congregation’s thinking about giving. If you feel uncomfortable preaching about giving, then please do contact Robyn (rrooney@cofe-worcester.org.uk) or Chris (cottershaw@cofe-worcester.org.uk), who can offer suggestions or come to your church to preach.
There has also been an increase in the number of people giving digitally, such as through a contactless device, QR code or a church’s website. Nearly 40% of Anglicans have now given through these methods, and if your church does not offer these, you could be missing out on vital donations. If you would like to chat about these options, please contact Robyn.
Finally, the survey showed that 70% of regular givers and 51% of occasional givers would increase the amount they gave if they better understood the impact of their giving. Please do think about how you explain what donations are used for and where individuals’ gifts go. Tell good news stories, explain the importance of your building and how Ministry Share helps in providing ministry for your churches. The stewardship team in the diocesan office is hoping to provide some template resources to help with this in the near future.
More information about the survey and its findings can be found on the Church of England's website.
