Giving & Remembrance

Every parish has its quiet strengths. At St Charles, Hedon and Withernsea, one of those strengths is the way people give — not loudly, not publicly, but steadily and from the heart. Some give time, some give skill, some give prayer, and others support the parish through small financial offerings that help keep our worship dignified and our community cared-for.

Giving & Remembrance brings together the simple, meaningful ways parishioners can contribute. It is not about grand fundraising or pressure. It is about pride in our church, gratitude for our history, and love for those we want to honour in prayer. Every gift here serves a purpose: keeping beauty alive, supporting the liturgy, helping the parish meet responsibilities, and remembering loved ones in faith.

Many people like to give in a way that feels personal. Sometimes a person wants to mark an anniversary, remember someone who has died, honour a wedding or baptism, or quietly help with costs that are never spoken about at the front of church. Others simply want to know that they are doing their part — that St Charles is not relying on a few generous households, but on the shared commitment of many.

These acts of giving are also acts of remembrance. Catholics believe that prayer connects us across time, across generations, and even across death. When we place a name on a Dead List, request a Mass, dedicate the Sanctuary Lamp, or support flowers for the sanctuary, we are saying something simple yet profound: love does not stop at the grave. We honour, we pray, we remember.

There is also a practical side. A parish is a living body. Flowers do not appear automatically. Paper, candles, and sacramental supplies are not gifted by the diocese. Special appeals allow us to stand with people in need, support missions, and respond when the Church asks for help. None of these things is glamorous, but all of them express faith in action.

As we move toward important years in the life of our churches — including the bicentenary of St Charles — presentation, hospitality and heritage matter more than ever. Visitors form impressions quickly. A cared-for church speaks of confidence, welcome and hope. A neglected one sends a different message. Giving here is not about funding luxuries: it’s about stewarding a place that belongs to all of us.

Every parishioner can take part in a way that feels right for them. A pound in an envelope, a name entrusted to prayer, a Mass offered for someone’s wellbeing, a small contribution to flowers — these are not financial transactions. They are gestures of community. They say: this is our church — and we look after it together.

Below you will find links to the different ways parishioners can give and remember. At the foot of the page, you can donate to the parish as if it were a collection giving or as a supplementary sum. Explore these giving channels at your own pace. Use them when needed. And above all, feel proud that you belong to a community where generosity is quiet, steady, and rooted in love.