Donate - St Mary's Church, Bideford

Your giving makes a difference

Life looks different today than it did a few years ago, but the need in our community hasn’t gone away. If anything, it’s grown. With the cost of living continuing to bite, more people in Bideford are struggling to heat their homes, feed their families or simply get through the week. St Mary’s is here for them.

Your support keeps our doors, and our Services, open to everyone who needs us. That means Sunday worship, including Holy Communion and Encounter, and groups for the people who need it most: those facing hardship, children and young parents, people coping with bereavement, older people, and anyone who just needs friendship and someone to talk to.

Like so many charities, we’re feeling the pressure of rising costs too. Whatever you’re able to give, thank you. It genuinely makes a difference to someone.

Give online

Ways to give

Online (one-off)	Give online through Givealittle
Regular giving	Join the Parish Giving Scheme or set up a standing order. Contact the Parish Office for details at admin@stmaryschurchbideford.org.
Bank transfer	Account name: St Mary’s Bideford PCC Sort code: 51-70-16 Account number: 79093205 Reference: Mustard Seed
Gift Aid	If you’re a UK taxpayer, a Gift Aid declaration lets us claim an extra 25p for every £1 you give. Download the Gift Aid form (PDF)
Leaving a gift in your will	A legacy gift helps sustain St Mary’s mission for future generations. Please ask the Parish Office for guidance.

Project Mustard Seed: our appeal

Project Mustard Seed began many years ago, when we set out to make St Mary’s easier for everyone to move around and more flexible for worship and community life, while keeping the beauty of our historic building. Like a mustard seed, it started small and has been growing ever since.

What we’ve done so far

Levelling the floors. Our first step was to level the floors throughout the nave, making it safer and easier for everyone to get around the church. This work is now complete.

The old raised wooden floor beside the pulpit, partly taken up with gaps between the boards, while builders work further along the nave — During the work: taking up the old raised floor

A builder kneeling on the old floorboards in the aisle beside the pews, with a broom nearby, as the floor is taken up — During the work: lifting the boards along the aisle

Builders at work in front of the chancel, with sections of the old wooden floor lifted and tools spread across the ground — During the work: in front of the chancel

Looking down the nave towards the west door, with the old wooden floor platforms being taken up and tools across the floor — During the work: looking down the nave

The front of St Mary's Church, Bideford, with new red carpet leading up to the chancel, altar and stained glass east window — Finished: the front of the church

The carved pulpit at St Mary's Church, Bideford, beside the new red carpet, with a handstitched red squirrel kneeler on a pew in the foreground — Finished: by the pulpit

The side chapel at St Mary's Church, Bideford, with new red carpet, pews lined with colourful handstitched kneelers, and stained glass windows — Finished: the side chapel

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New chairs. We’ve started replacing the seating at the back of the church with new chairs, which already make it much easier to set up for the Friday Diner and our other events.

A new entrance. We have finished building a new entrance, so more people can come into the church, whatever their abilities.

The new entrance to St Mary's Church, Bideford: curved stone steps with stainless steel handrails leading up to the arched wooden door, with a level railed approach alongside and the clock tower above — Our new entrance, opening the church to more people

Sound and screens. We have improved our sound and visual equipment, and added screens so everyone can take part when the church is full.

What’s coming next

New heating: our heating system is well past its best and will be replaced over the next year to 18 months.
Chairs instead of pews: the first two pews have been taken out for now, and over time we plan to replace all the pews with chairs that can be moved. That will let the church host all kinds of events, and perhaps one day a whole wedding, from the ceremony to the celebration afterwards.
A purpose-built kitchen: over the next couple of years we’re looking to build a kitchen to support community meals and church hospitality.
A space to meet: the back of the church will become a meeting area where groups can come together.

Why your gift matters in 2026/27

Protect the building: care for the stonework, heating, roof, organ and essential maintenance.
Complete the Mustard Seed works: new heating, movable chairs in place of the pews, a purpose-built kitchen and a meeting space for groups.
Strengthen our community work: hospitality, courses, children and youth, and pastoral care.

The cost of materials and compliance keeps rising. Regular giving helps us plan wisely and keep the work moving.

Your gift at work

£20	Buys a stackable chair or resources for a community course.
£50	Helps level the floor in the rest of the church, ready for when the pews come out.
£100	Contributes to sound and screen upgrades or the kitchen fit-out.
Regular giving	Gives us the stability to plan each phase of the building work and our ministry.

Accountability and updates

We are committed to being open about how your money is used. Project updates and annual accounts are shared at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) and are available on request. If you’d like a tour of the works or a conversation about giving, please speak to a churchwarden or one of the clergy.

Everything we do at St Mary’s is made possible by the generosity of so many. Thank you for your gifts and your prayers.