Donate — St Mary’s Church, Bideford | Project Mustard Seed 2025/26
Help us preserve our beautiful church and grow our community ministry. Your gift supports both the care of our historic building and the future‑facing vision of Project Mustard Seed.
Future Vision: Project Mustard Seed
In faith, we have embarked on a building project that will make St Mary’s more suitable for contemporary worship and wider community use, while preserving its beauty as a worship space.
| Safer access | Levelling floors for accessibility and ease of movement throughout the nave. |
|---|---|
| Flexible seating | Replacing pews with chairs to adapt for services, concerts, community meals and events. |
| Hospitality | A new, purpose‑built kitchen to support community meals and church hospitality. |
| Space to gather | An added meeting room for groups, courses and quiet pastoral conversations. |
Progress so far (last five years): installed disability access; improved AV; added monitors so everyone can participate when the church is full.
Why your gift matters in 2025/26
Preserving our heritage and serving our neighbours go hand in hand. Your generosity enables us to:
- Protect the fabric — care for stonework, heating, roof, organ and essential maintenance.
- Complete Mustard Seed works — make the building safer, more flexible and welcoming.
- Strengthen community ministry — hospitality, courses, children & youth, and pastoral care.
The need is growing: costs for materials and compliance are rising. Regular giving helps us plan wisely and keep momentum.
Your gift at work
| £20 | Buys a stackable chair or resources for a community course. |
|---|---|
| £50 | Helps level a section of flooring or supports volunteer training. |
| £100 | Contributes to AV/monitor upgrades or kitchen fit‑out. |
| Regular | Gives stability to plan phases of building and ministry. |
How to give
Every gift, large or small, makes a real difference. Thank you.
| Online (one‑off) | Donate online Link to your Givealittle / online platform. |
|---|---|
| Regular giving | Join the Parish Giving Scheme or set up a standing order. Contact the Parish Office for details: [email/phone]. |
| Bank transfer | Account name: [Parish name] • Sort code: [xx‑xx‑xx] • Account no: [xxxxxxx] Reference: MustardSeed / General |
| Gift Aid | If you’re a UK taxpayer, please complete a Gift Aid declaration so we can claim an extra 25p for every £1 you give. Gift Aid form |
| Legacy giving | Consider leaving a gift in your will to sustain St Mary’s mission for future generations. Ask the office for guidance. |
Accountability & updates
We are committed to transparency. Project updates and annual accounts are shared at the APCM and on request. If you’d like a tour of the works or a conversation about giving, please speak to a churchwarden or the clergy.
Thank you for your generosity and prayers. Together, we are stewards of our history and planters of the future.
© St Mary’s Church, Bideford • Donate — Project Mustard Seed 2025/26
