Restoration - can you help us?

We continue to raise money to fully restore this magnificent Christopher Wren church, consecrated in 1684, so that it may serve the community for a further 300 years.

The Appeal – key stages

• Full replacement of the roof
  COMPLETED!
• Renewal of the electrics- we're fund raising
• Repair of the walls and tower
  PART COMPLETED, MORE TO DO
• New organ- we're fund raising
• Restoration of the Grinling Gibbons
  organ casing- we're fund raising
• Internal restoration - we're fund raising

Donate securely online

St James’s not only has importance for the area immediately around it but also forms part of the great architectural heritage of Wren buildings in London.

The Post-War restoration is now in desperate need of repair. Damp and general deterioration of the fabric mean that there is now a great deal of urgent work required in order to restore Wren’s only surviving West End church to its original glory.

Ways of helping
Gift Aid, legacies, a gift in memory and share-giving are all ways of donating to St James’s Church, although by no means the only ones.

Gift Aid
Gift Aid is a way of making a tax-efficient gift to charity. The Gift Aid scheme is for gifts of money by individuals who pay UK tax. Gift Aid donations are regarded as having basic rate tax deducted by the donor. St James's is able to take your donation - which is money you've already paid tax on - and reclaim basic rate tax from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) on its 'gross' equivalent - the amount before basic rate tax was deducted. Basic rate tax is 20 per cent, so this means that if you give £10 using Gift Aid, it's worth £12.50 to St James's.

Companies may also claim relief from corporation tax on Gift Aided donations to St James’s Church.

Legacies
A legacy (a gift left by your Will) is one of the most generous gifts you can give. There are two mains ways to give -

• You can leave a purely financial legacy by naming a sum of money.
• Alternatively, and this is what many people do, you could simply leave what is known as a ‘residuary’ legacy, leaving us a proportion of your estate after all other legacies and expenses have been paid. All bequests to the church are exempt from Inheritance Tax.

Should you decide to leave a legacy your name will be inscribed in the Roll of Honour Book here at St James’s.

A Gift in Memory
Making a donation in memory of a friend or relative is a special way to remember them. Many people now prefer to give a donation to charity instead of giving flowers at a funeral. All gifts in memory receive an individual acknowledgement and the next of kin are advised of the names of donors and the total amount of the specific Memorial Fund.

Donor Recognition
We believe that all donors, whether big or small, have the right to be recognised publicly if they so wish. For further information you may contact the Parish Secretary in confidence.

Share Giving
Giving shares is a remarkably tax efficient way to support St James’s Church. Instead of donating money you simply transfer shares. Any individual or company can do this with large or small amounts of shares.

• Giving Shares as an Individual
  If you donate shares there is a potential double tax advantage: not only is the gift exempt from Capital Gains Tax but also you can claim income tax relief on the value of your donation. This means that giving shares is especially attractive for higher rate tax payers and people whose shares have been significantly increased in value.
• Giving Shares as a Company
  Companies can similarly claim corporation tax relief by giving shares to St James’s Church.

We shall soon be adding an online facility for giving.  In the meantime, if you have any questions please contact
The St James’s Church Piccadilly Restoration Appeal
c/o David Hamilton-Peters, Parish Secretary

New roof 2012

Dusty Cherub. We have yet to restore the interior