Remembering your parish or the Diocese in your Will lets you support priests, churches and the people they serve for generations after you. Some of the most important work the Diocese does today was made possible by people who chose to leave a legacy.

What you can leave

There are three common ways to include the Diocese or your parish in your Will:

• A specific sum of money, for example £1,000 or £10,000.
• A share of your estate, often called a residuary legacy, after other provisions have been made.
• A specific item, such as a property, shareholding or piece of art.

Restricted or unrestricted

You can leave a gift to be used wherever the need is greatest, or you can restrict it to a specific purpose: a parish, a fund (like the Retired Priests' Fund or Clergy Education and Training Fund), or a particular cause. Talk to the Planned Giving Office before you write a restricted gift, so the wording matches what the Diocese can carry out.

Suggested wording for your solicitor

Your solicitor will draft the precise language, but a starting point is:

"I give [the sum of £___ / ___% of the residue of my estate / the following item] to the Trustees of the Diocese of Shrewsbury, registered charity number 234025, of 2 Park Road South, Prenton CH43 4UX, for [their general charitable purposes / the work of [name of parish] / the [name of fund]], and I direct that the receipt of the Treasurer or other proper officer for the time being shall be a sufficient discharge."

Inheritance Tax

Charitable legacies are exempt from Inheritance Tax. If you leave 10% or more of your taxable estate to charity, the rate of Inheritance Tax on the rest of your estate may be reduced. Your solicitor or financial adviser can confirm the position for your circumstances.

Tell us if you can

You are under no obligation to tell the Diocese you have left a gift. If you are willing to, it helps with planning and gives us the chance to thank you in your lifetime. The Planned Giving Office handles all legacy correspondence in confidence.

Get in touch

For confidential advice on legacy giving, contact the Planned Giving Office: pg@dioceseofshrewsbury.org.