Faithful generosity expresses our response to God’s abundant love, touching every aspect of our lives and the life of our churches. This guide outlines the resources available on the diocesan Faith and Generosity web pages to help churches and individuals explore generous discipleship, encourage giving and support the life of our churches and communities.
Please select topics below to explore the resources available.
Generosity is at the heart of Christian life. As we grow in faith and learn to trust in God’s generosity, we discover new ways of sharing our time, talents, resources and care with others. These resources help churches reflect on how generosity can become a natural expression of their faith, worship and mission.
Growing Faith & Generosity: For Church Conversations
A resource for PCCs, church leadership teams and other church groups to explore what it means to be a generous church, and to consider practical ways to foster generosity within their own communities.
Sherborne with Pamber – A Parish Journey
A short film exploring one parish’s experience of growing a culture of generosity, bringing together prayer, faith and financial sustainability.
Faith & Generosity in Action – Lockerley and East Dean
An inspiring example of generosity expressed through hospitality, volunteering and service to the wider community.
Cornerstone: Growing Generosity in Your Parish
The Church of England’s free resource offering practical guidance and step-by-step pathways to help churches develop a culture of generosity and encourage giving.
Living generously is part of our journey of Christian discipleship. As we grow in our understanding of God’s abundant generosity towards us, we learn to respond by sharing more freely what we have received. Generosity is not simply about money, but about how we live, how we relate to others, and how we offer ourselves in God’s service.
These resources explore what it means to follow Christ by learning to live more generously.
Living Generously – Church of England Video Series
Eight short films exploring different aspects of generosity through the biblical account of Mary anointing Jesus’ feet (John 12). Themes include generosity with our time, attention, wealth, talents, possessions and personal comfort. Each film has an accompanying study guide, making the series suitable for individual reflection or group study. The link above is to the Church of England website; the films are also available on the Faith & Generosity ‘learning and teaching’ web page here.
This Lie Can Keep You From Living Generously – Bible Project
A short animated film (approximately five minutes) exploring God’s generosity throughout the biblical story, and how our fears about scarcity can prevent us from sharing generously. An accessible introduction to the relationship between faith, trust and generosity.
A five-week resource for exploring God’s generosity and our response, through daily reflections on generous living, generous giving and generosity towards others. Available on the diocesan Teaching and Group Resources page.
Taking time to reflect on God’s generosity can help us recognise the many ways in which we receive and share his gifts. Whether exploring generosity individually or together with others, these resources offer opportunities for prayer, reflection and conversation about living generously as followers of Christ.
Faith & Generosity Reflections – Diocese of Winchester
A collection of short video reflections exploring themes of Serving, Learning, Growing and Loving. These reflections can be used individually, as a starting point for small-group discussions, or as part of church meetings and gatherings.
Seven Sacred Spaces – Giving in Grace
A group resource from Giving in Grace offering opportunities to explore Christian living, faith and generosity together. The resource booklet is available to download from the diocesan Learning, Teaching and Reflecting on Generosity page.
The Generosity of Ruth – Giving in Grace
Resources published in 2026 exploring the sacrificial life of Ruth. They provide a biblical starting point for reflecting together on faithfulness, self-giving and generosity.
Preaching offers an important opportunity to explore God’s abundant generosity and how we respond to it in our lives. These resources offer biblical reflections, theological insights and practical ideas to help preachers explore generosity as an expression of Christian faith and discipleship.
Talking Faith & Generosity – Monthly Lectionary Reflections
A growing collection of sermon notes and reflections produced by the Diocese of Winchester, drawing on readings from the Common Worship Lectionary. Each explores aspects of faith and generosity, offering theological background, ideas and reflections for preachers to develop and adapt.
Church of England Preaching Resources
Resources include ‘Stewardship for Sundays’ lectionary notes, ‘Stewardship for Harvest’, a five-sermon series on Luke chapters 14 to 17 and sermon resources from Giving in Grace, offering biblical and theological perspectives on generosity, stewardship and Christian discipleship. Available via the link above and via athe diocesan Teaching and Learning web page.
Our Offering – A Resource for Reflection and Sermon Preparation
A reflection on the offering of ourselves and our gifts to God, rooted in the theology of the Offertory. Particularly suitable for preaching about faithful generosity or introducing a parish giving initiative.
Worship is at the heart of our response to God’s generosity. Through prayer, thanksgiving and the offering of ourselves and our gifts, we learn to recognise all that we have received from God and to respond with generous hearts.
These resources offer prayers, reflections, readings and ideas for exploring faithful generosity within the worshipping life of our churches, both throughout the year and on particular occasions.
Faith & Generosity – Resources for Worship
Diocesan worship resources exploring generosity through the themes of Learning and Loving, including sermon reflections, a four-week worship resource, and videos and activities for children and young people.
Giving to God – Serving, Learning, Growing, Loving
A flexible worship resource exploring four aspects of Christian discipleship through Scripture, prayer and reflection. Drawing on the diocesan vision Walking the Wessex Way, it encourages congregations to recognise their gifts of time, talents and financial resources as offerings to God.
Reimagining the Offertory – Church of England
A practical and theological resource exploring the significance of the Offertory in Christian worship, with ideas for helping congregations understand the offering of money and other gifts as part of our response to God’s generosity.
Generosity Week – Worship Resources from the Church of England
A collection of worship materials including prayers, Eucharistic resources, Services of the Word and daily prayer. These can be adapted for use throughout the Christian year, particularly during a season of reflection on gratitude and generosity.
Generosity is something we can begin to discover and practise from an early age. Through Bible stories, prayer, conversation and activities, children and young people can explore God’s generous love and how they might respond by sharing their time, gifts and care with others.
These resources offer engaging ways to explore faithful generosity in children’s and youth groups, schools and all-age worship.
Faith & Generosity – Children’s Videos and Activities
Two short videos produced by the Diocese of Winchester exploring the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31–46) and the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37). Each is accompanied by a downloadable colouring sheet, helping younger children explore what it means to love and care for others.
Faith Steps – Resources for Young People
Two diocesan video reflections for young people: Learning to Walk Where Jesus Leads and Carrying God’s Love Into Every Place. These explore discipleship, trust and sharing God’s love through our actions, providing starting points for conversation and reflection.
A collection of activities, videos and practical ideas for exploring generosity with children and young people. Resources include the Cheeky Pandas’ Godly Generosity videos, exploring Time, Talents and Treasure, alongside prayer activities, games, creative challenges and material for children’s and youth groups. Suitable for use throughout the year, as well as during a Generosity Week.
Taking time to reflect on and review our giving is a natural part of our response to God’s generosity. Whether planning a simple annual review or a more substantial giving initiative, these resources can help churches encourage generosity in ways appropriate to their circumstances and resources.
Our Offering – A Flexible Resource for Giving
A simple, flexible diocesan resource for encouraging and reviewing financial giving and volunteering over one, two or three Sundays. Rooted in the theology of the Offertory, it includes a downloadable booklet, editable pew sheets and material for reflection and sermon preparation. Particularly suitable for smaller and rural churches and multi-parish benefices.
Giving in Grace – Resources for Giving Initiatives
A comprehensive collection of resources for churches wishing to plan a more substantial giving programme. The recently updated Giving in Grace materials provide guidance on encouraging generosity, communicating financial needs and developing faithful giving. Access the resources through the diocesan PCC Resources page.
Cornerstone – Practical Pathways for Growing Generosity
The Church of England’s free Cornerstone platform offers practical, step-by-step guidance to help churches develop their approach to generosity and giving. Its Pathways include guidance on planning giving initiatives, teaching about generosity and communicating effectively.
Editable Letters, Leaflets and Posters
A collection of diocesan templates that churches can adapt for their own giving initiatives, including an annual financial review letter, giving brochures and donation posters. Designed to save time and help churches communicate clearly and effectively.
As the way we use money changes, churches can make it easier for people to give by offering a range of giving options. Digital giving enables members of congregations, visitors and the wider community to make donations conveniently, whether through contactless card readers, online giving or QR codes.
These resources offer practical advice to help churches explore the options and choose arrangements appropriate to their needs and circumstances.
Card Readers and Digital Giving – Diocese of Winchester
Guidance on introducing contactless giving in churches, including choosing a suitable card reader, considering costs and internet connectivity, and using QR codes. Includes video presentations, parish experiences and a downloadable QR code poster template.
Parish Giving Scheme – Diocese of Winchester
The Parish Giving Scheme (PGS) enables regular and one-off donations to parish churches. It offers a straightforward way to manage regular giving, including Gift Aid where appropriate, and provides online giving pages and QR codes for individual churches. The diocesan page includes a recorded webinar, guidance on promoting the scheme and an editable QR code donation poster.
Getting Started with Digital Giving – Church of England
A practical introduction to setting up online and contactless giving, including advice on choosing suitable options for your church. Particularly helpful for PCCs and treasurers considering digital giving for the first time.
Leaving a gift to your church in your will can be a lasting expression of faith and generosity, helping to sustain its worship, mission and ministry for future generations.
These resources offer guidance for churches wishing to encourage legacy giving sensitively and appropriately, alongside practical information for those considering leaving a gift in their will.
Legacy Giving – Diocese of Winchester
A comprehensive collection of diocesan resources, including guidance on encouraging legacy giving, an example PCC Legacy Policy, a recorded webinar, parish stories and information about will writing. The page also includes details of available free will-writing opportunities and materials for parish communications.
Legacy Giving Tri-fold leaflet – editable
A customisable resource that parishes can adapt with their own photographs and information. Particularly useful for churches wanting to explain how legacy gifts can support their continuing mission and ministry. Available via the Templates for Giving and Parish Finance page.
Legacy Giving – Church of England
National guidance and resources to help churches encourage and receive legacy gifts, including ideas for communicating with congregations, developing a legacy policy, sharing stories and organising a legacy initiative.
Volunteering is a wonderful expression of Christian generosity. Through offering our time, talents and care, we share in the life and mission of the Church and help make God’s love visible in our communities.
Encouraging volunteering is not simply about finding people to carry out tasks. It is also about recognising people’s gifts, helping them discover new opportunities to serve, and ensuring that volunteers feel welcomed, supported and valued.
Volunteering Resources – Diocese of Winchester
Practical guidance for churches on recruiting, welcoming and supporting volunteers, including role descriptions, safeguarding, training, expenses and recognising volunteers’ contributions. The page also provides downloadable materials and links to further resources from Church Urban Fund.
Managing Volunteers – Church of England
Guidance to help churches and community projects recruit, manage and support volunteers effectively. Includes advice on volunteer policies, recruitment, responsibilities and good practice.
JOIN – Recruiting Volunteers for Children and Youth Ministry
A Church of England toolkit designed to help churches encourage and recruit volunteers for children’s and youth ministry. Includes videos, posters, campaign materials and practical guidance on recruitment, safeguarding and supporting volunteers.
Sharing stories of generosity helps us recognise and celebrate the many ways in which God’s love is expressed through the life of our churches. Communicating well also helps people understand how their gifts of time, talents and financial resources support the Church’s worship, mission and service to the wider community.
These resources offer ideas and practical tools for sharing the impact of generosity, expressing gratitude and helping congregations and communities understand the difference their contributions make.
Growing Faith & Generosity – For Church Conversations
A diocesan resource helping PCCs and church leadership teams reflect on developing a culture of generosity. The section Sharing Impact explores how churches can communicate their mission, explain how resources are used, share stories of generosity and express gratitude to those who give.
Faithful Giving of Time and Talents – Stories of Generosity
Stories from churches across the Diocese demonstrating the difference generosity makes in local communities. Examples include community cafés in Lockerley, East Dean, and Maybush, and improvements to the Garden of Remembrance at Dibden. These offer inspiration for churches wishing to share their own stories of generosity in action. On the Faith & Generosity home page, scroll past the Faith & Finance section.
Templates for Giving and Parish Finance – Diocese of Winchester
A collection of editable materials to help churches communicate financial needs and explain the impact of giving. Resources include a budget donations calculator, donation posters, letters and leaflets that can be adapted to reflect the circumstances and mission of individual parishes.
Preparing letters, leaflets, posters and financial information can take time, particularly for smaller churches with limited resources. These ready-to-use templates and spreadsheets can be adapted to suit the needs and circumstances of individual parishes.
Templates for Giving and Parish Finance – Diocese of Winchester
A collection of downloadable and editable resources, including:
- Letters and leaflets – annual giving review letters, invitations to community members, planned giving brochures, legacy giving leaflets and parish vision day invitations.
- Posters and communications – giving posters, QR code templates and an editable Our Offering pew sheet to encourage prayer and reflection on generosity.
- Financial spreadsheets – the diocesan Budget Donations Calculator, the Giving in Grace Knowing Our Numbers spreadsheet, and the Community of Worshippers and Worshipping Community Calculator.
- Giving in Grace templates – additional customisable stewardship materials, including resources prepared using Canva.
The page also includes guidance on accessing free Canva Pro features for eligible charitable organisations.
PCCs and church leadership teams play an important role in encouraging and developing generosity within the life of their churches. This involves more than managing finances: it means helping the church discern its mission, make faithful decisions about its resources, and encourage the sharing of time, talents and financial gifts.
These resources offer opportunities for reflection and discussion, alongside practical guidance to help PCCs, LCCs and other leadership teams develop a culture of generosity and plan for the future.
Growing Faith & Generosity – For Church Conversations
A diocesan resource designed for PCCs and other church groups to explore five aspects of faithful generosity: Encouraging Generosity, Living Generously, Sharing Generosity, Sharing Impact and Faithful Generosity. Each section includes questions for discussion and practical suggestions, helping churches recognise what they already do well, identify opportunities for growth and develop an action plan.
PCC Resources – Stewardship, Offertory and Fundraising
A collection of practical resources to support PCC decision-making, including Giving in Grace, guidance on establishing Friends schemes, parish reserves policies, fundraising good practice and the theology and practice of the Offertory.
Cornerstone – Growing Generosity in Your Parish
The Church of England’s free resource to help PCCs and church leadership teams understand their parish’s financial position and identify opportunities to develop generosity. Cornerstone’s Insights provide information about parish finances and giving patterns, while its Pathways offer practical guidance on encouraging generosity, developing giving and planning for the future.
Smaller churches often have a strong tradition of generosity, with people giving faithfully of their time, talents and financial resources. Yet limited volunteers, time and resources can make it difficult to introduce new initiatives.
Encouraging generosity need not involve complicated programmes or additional committees. These resources offer simple, manageable ways for smaller churches to build on what they already do, encourage giving and support their continuing worship and mission.
Our Offering – A Flexible Resource for Giving
Designed particularly with smaller and rural churches in mind, Our Offering offers a straightforward way to reflect on and encourage financial giving and volunteering over one, two or three Sundays. Rooted in the theology of the Offertory, it requires no special launch event or complicated programme and includes an accessible booklet, editable pew sheets and material for reflection and preaching.
Cornerstone – Practical Pathways for Growing Generosity
The Church of England’s free Cornerstone resource offers practical, step-by-step guidance to help churches identify manageable ways of developing generosity. Its Pathways allow PCCs to focus on particular opportunities, from encouraging regular giving to improving communication, without having to undertake everything at once.
Parish Giving Scheme – Making Regular Giving Easier
The Parish Giving Scheme offers a straightforward way to encourage and administer regular donations, reducing the administrative burden on volunteer treasurers and Gift Aid officers. People can join online, by telephone or using a paper form. The scheme also enables one-off online donations through parish giving pages and QR codes.
Templates for Giving and Parish Finance
Ready-to-use letters, leaflets, posters and simple financial spreadsheets that can be adapted for individual churches. These resources help smaller parishes explain their financial needs, encourage giving and communicate with their communities without having to produce everything from scratch.
Sustaining the worship, mission and ministry of our churches requires careful stewardship of the resources entrusted to us. Alongside encouraging faithful regular giving, churches may wish to explore additional sources of income that reflect their circumstances, buildings and relationships with the wider community.
These resources offer practical guidance on developing sustainable income, encouraging financial support and exploring opportunities that can help churches continue to serve their communities.
Parish Giving Scheme – Encouraging Regular Giving
The Parish Giving Scheme (PGS) provides a convenient way for people to support their local church through regular donations. It simplifies the administration of giving and Gift Aid, and offers donors the option of increasing their gifts annually in line with inflation. The diocesan page includes practical guidance, promotional materials and a recorded webinar.
Additional Sources of Income and Fundraising – Diocese of Winchester
A collection of practical ideas and guidance for churches wishing to explore additional income. Resources include fundraising advice, Easyfundraising, and opportunities associated with church buildings and land, such as hosting telecommunications equipment or electric vehicle charging points.
Friends Schemes and Fundraising Guidance
Guidance on establishing a Friends scheme to encourage support from people in the wider community who value their local church, even if they do not regularly attend worship. The diocesan page also includes fundraising guidance from Ecclesiastical Insurance and information about good fundraising practice.
Cornerstone – Insights and Pathways for Sustainable Giving
The Church of England’s free Cornerstone platform helps churches understand their existing financial position and identify opportunities for developing income. Its Insights provide information about parish finances and giving patterns, while its Pathways offer manageable steps towards encouraging generosity and strengthening regular giving.
Good financial stewardship is an important part of the life of every church. PCCs have a responsibility to manage the resources entrusted to them carefully, transparently and in accordance with charity law and Church of England requirements.
These resources provide practical guidance for PCC treasurers, Gift Aid officers and church leadership teams on financial administration, reporting and good practice.
PCC Treasurer Resources – Diocese of Winchester
Guidance and information for PCC treasurers, including resources from diocesan training sessions, parochial fees, parish financial returns and protecting churches against fraud and cybercrime. The page also provides details of where to obtain support and advice.
Gift Aid and the Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme – Diocese of Winchester
Practical guidance on claiming Gift Aid and the Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme (GASDS), including links to HMRC and Church of England guidance, example declarations and resources for single and multi-church parishes. The page also includes information about Gift Aid and the Parish Giving Scheme following parish mergers.
Parish Finance – Diocese of Winchester
The Diocese’s main finance information page, providing guidance on the Common Mission Fund, parochial fees, annual parish accounts and reporting requirements, together with information about obtaining help from the diocesan finance team.
Parish Reserves Policies and Guidance
Guidance to help PCCs develop and review appropriate financial reserves policies. Resources include a simple guide to parish reserves, frequently asked questions and examples of reserves policies from the Church of England. Available on the diocesan PCC Resources page.
Helping people understand church finances is an important part of encouraging faithful generosity. Clear, accessible information about how money is received and used enables congregations and the wider community to appreciate the costs of sustaining their church, and how their generosity supports worship, mission and ministry.
These resources offer practical ways to explain church finances, communicate financial needs and show how giving makes a difference.
Templates for Giving and Parish Finance – Diocese of Winchester
A collection of editable spreadsheets, posters and other materials to help churches explain their finances clearly. Particularly useful resources include:
- Budget Donations Calculator – an Excel spreadsheet illustrating the costs of running a church and the impact of regular or additional donations.
- Knowing Our Numbers – Giving in Grace – a financial analysis spreadsheet to help churches understand and present their financial position.
- Editable Donation Poster – a customisable poster showing how financial gifts contribute towards particular costs and activities.
Understanding the Common Mission Fund – Diocese of Winchester
Information explaining how the Common Mission Fund supports clergy, ministry and mission across the Diocese of Winchester. Resources include an explanatory webinar, a downloadable porch card and guidance on how parish contributions are calculated and used. These can help PCCs explain the relationship between local giving and the wider mission of the Church.
Cornerstone – Understanding Your Parish Finances
The Church of England’s free Cornerstone platform includes Insights, which uses parish financial returns to provide a clearer picture of income, expenditure and giving patterns. The system also enables users to add their most up-to-date data. Insights can help PCCs understand their financial circumstances, identify opportunities and communicate more confidently about the resources needed to support their church’s mission and ministry.
Grants can provide valuable financial support for church buildings, community projects, mission initiatives and other activities that help churches serve their communities.
Finding the right funding opportunity and preparing a successful application can sometimes be challenging. These resources offer information about available grants, practical guidance on identifying suitable funders and advice on preparing applications.
Church Capital Project Funding – Diocese of Winchester
Information about funding opportunities for church buildings and capital projects. The diocesan page includes links to guidance on capital projects for parishes, Net Zero Carbon grants, the Parish Accessibility Fund and the Places of Worship Renewal Fund.
The Church of England’s free Cornerstone platform provides access to a comprehensive, searchable database of grant opportunities suitable for churches. Parishes can search for potential funders according to their location, the nature of their project and the funding required. The diocesan page explains how to access Cornerstone and where to obtain advice.
Where to Get Funding – Church of England
A collection of information and links to organisations offering grants and financial support for charitable and community activities. Particularly useful for churches developing projects that address local needs, strengthen community relationships or support people experiencing disadvantage.
Finding the Right External Funder – Church of England
Practical advice on identifying suitable grant-making organisations, understanding their funding priorities and preparing applications. Includes guidance on assessing eligibility, developing a fundraising strategy and approaching potential funders.
Grant programmes, application deadlines and eligibility requirements can change, so churches should always check the current guidance before applying. For major projects, early discussion with the appropriate diocesan advisers is recommended.