An important part of Christian witness is giving to others and St James’s has always had a strong tradition of supporting other agencies in Christian mission by understanding the work that each charity does, building relationships with the people who do the work, raising funds and sharing their stories. Charitable giving has always been at the heart of our parish outreach - an essential part of the good news our Christian faith encourages us to proclaim.
For many years a high level of sustained giving was possible because St James’s included charitable grants in its annual budget, striving to give 10% of the church’s income. Now the parish has an annual programme of fundraising projects, such as the Lent Appeal and Christian Aid Week. Collections are taken during the year, as part of a fundraising event or personal donations. Representatives of our supported charities are invited to come and speak about their work during Sunday services.
Non-monetary collections include the Harvest collection of non-perishable items, including basic toiletries, for The Upper Room in Hammersmith. Other non-monetary collections are taken from time to time.
St James has a Fairtrade Church certificate and uses Fairtrade products for its refreshments.
Giving is not just about money. It is also about sharing our lives and growing in understanding and friendship, which is where 'Links' come in. St James has a long-standing connection with St Luke’s Mission Hospital in Milo, south west Tanzania. We have learnt so much about the lives of the people who live and work there and have helped where we can, including paying for various pieces of equipment and covering training fees for several young people.
St James also takes an active interest in ALMA, the partnership the Diocese of London has with Angola and Mozambique since 1998. As well as supporting the general aims of ALMA and its Lent Appeals, St James is linked with the parish of St Luke in Mecuburi, In the Diocese of Nampula in northern Mozambique.
The Charity Support Team
The Charity Support Team looks after the parish's charitable giving and is responsible for setting the annual programme of charitable grants and for relating to the recipients. It tries to ensure donations are split evenly between charities that support people here in the UK and charities supporting people overseas. Our support of fundraising events and our personal gifts determine the amount of money available to this team.
ALMA (Angola London Mozambique Association)
ALMA is the partnership between the Anglican Church in Angola, London and Mozambique. The aim is to get to know one another, learn from each other and assist each other in proclaiming the message of salvation in a way that is relevant to today’s world. See the ALMA Website.
Bishop Wand School
Our annual donation to our nearest Church of England secondary school contributes towards the cost of employing the School Chaplain, as well as projects supported by the Governing BodySee the Bishop Wand Website.
Children's Society
The Children’s Society is a leading national charity, allied to The Church of England, driven by the belief that every child deserves a good childhood. Through its network of services all over the country, it offers help to many types of vulnerable children. See the Children's Society Website.
Christian Aid
Christian Aid’s work is founded on Christian faith, but it helps all people, regardless of their religion or nationality. It is a charity that works with people, of all faiths and none, to combat poverty and injustice across the world. See the Christian Aid Website.
St Luke’s Hospital in Milo, Tanzania
St Luke’s Hospital in Milo, southwest Tanzania, is an Anglican mission hospital run by the Diocese of South West Tanganyika. The hospital serves a population of about 150,000 and has 50 beds, including male, female, and maternity wards. They also have an Outpatients Dispensary. St James has supported it for over 40 years and now particularly supports the work of two volunteers, Doctors Hilary and Adrian Murray, who visit the hospital regularly.
The Upper Room
The Upper Room is a community charity based at St Saviour’s Church in Wendell Park, Hammersmith. It provides a range of services for the homeless, vulnerable, and socially disadvantaged of West London. These include a weekday evening meal and support in finding a job. See the The Upper Room Website.
Welcare in Richmond
Welcare is a Christian Charity that works alongside parents and young children in need, to achieve a better quality of life for the family. It aims to prevent family relationships breaking down and to provide services in response to local needs which encourage self-help and build communities. See the Welcare Website.
Find out more
Witness, Mission & Outreach through the years (document) shows some of what happened from when records began up until 2017. The Annual Parochial Church Meeting Reports show the annual reports from most teams and groups since then. (Scroll down the document of the year you are interested in to find the report you want)
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A Life Group |
Milo Hospital supported by St James's |
The Upper Room |