Charities
St Mary's has supported many different overseas and local charities over the years. For overseas charities it has been our policy to give to those with a Christian ethos. Our choice of local charities reflects the particular interests and concerns of the members of the congregation who propose them.
In addition to financial giving out of church income to its chosen charities, St Mary’s supports other charities with one-off collections, such as for Christian Aid during Christian Aid Week in May and the Children’s Society at the Christingle Service and in response to major disasters.
Charitable Giving in Kind
The Windsor Room is made available free of charge to HANDS (Help a Neighbour in Distress) for Sunday lunch, and the premises next door are licensed to Off the Record for their confidential counseling service, again free of charge.
The congregation supports requests for the Richmond food bank organised by the Vineyard Church and the Christmas Angel Tree buying gifts for people on the local Social Services register.
Financial Giving to Charity
Each year the PCC has set aside an amount of money it will pledge to charity out of its income. Cheques are given out at harvest time each year.
Overseas: Leprosy Mission
Mengo Hospital, Uganda
Mission Aviation Fellowship
Mission to Seafarers
Mothers’ Union (Overseas work)
Bethany Ministry, Philippines
Us (formerly United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel)
Vellore Hospital, India
Local: Alzheimer’s Society (West locality)
Crossway Pregnancy Crisis centre
Double O Charity
HANDS
Richmond Youth Partnership (Off the Record)
Samaritans (Kingston area)
Together as One
Twickenham Club for the Blind
Welcare
Charitable Giving out of 2013 Income
Charity Sundays 2015
We shall be joined by a representative from one of the charities we support as a church at the 9.30 Eucharist on each of the Charity Sundays. The service will be followed by a retiring collection for all the charities we support as a church.
3 May - Guest Speaker Clare Paine from Christian Aid