St. Oswald’s Grasmere is one of more than 100 churches nominated for a national contactless donation project which is being piloted in the Diocese of Carlisle for a year.

Around 115 Anglican churches are getting a free contactless unit. Donors can choose the amount of the donation. Monthly charges will not be charged for the first year, though a small commission will be deducted by the payments processor.

The Church of England’s National Giving team will support churches throughout the pilot. The team manager, Grace Emmett, said: “As the trend continues for card payments to outperform cash, contactless giving will enable visitors the ability to quickly and easily support the life and ministry of churches across the Diocese. Experience so far is that contactless donations are around three times the value of cash donations.”

One of the first churches to go live was St Mary’s, Ambleside. The Team Rector, Revd Beverley Lock, said: “More and more, we are seeing people who visit our churches turning to contactless payment in their day-to-day lives, so it’s really important that the church is able to offer them the same opportunity. During the Covid pandemic, we’ve really missed our visitors for their fellowship and encouragement. We hope this will make their generous giving easier.”

Other churches where the service is being launched include Lanercost Priory; St. Lawrence’s, Appleby; St Michael and All Angels, Hawkshead; and St Bees Priory.

Carlisle Diocese Newsletter, 30 April 2021, & Church Times, 28 May 2021.