Legacies

Making a real difference to the future and how your legacy will help the parish of Kildwick, Cononley & Bradley

Why make a will?
If you don’t make a will the law decides how your estate will be distributed, which may not be what you want. Making a will is a way of showing that you care.

Christians have a special responsibility – leaving a will is a vital part of using our God given resources wisely. Preparing a will can be very uplifting.

As you spend time considering the future, you can anticipate and visualise the blessing that others will gain from your gifts.

What should I include in my will?
When making a will we all think about those closest to us – our family and friends – and they should come first. But writing a will is a wonderful opportunity to express generosity at a level which may not have been possible earlier in life and you are invited to consider leaving a legacy to the parish of Kildwick, Cononley & Bradley.

What sort of legacy?
There are three main types of legacy:
• a fixed sum of money
• a proportion of your estate
• a particular item of property

What are the tax implications?
As with all gifts to charity, a legacy to the church will be free of Inheritance Tax so this will reduce any tax that would otherwise have to be paid on your estate.

Why should I leave a legacy to The Parish of Kildwick, Cononley & Bradley?
A legacy to the church is a true investment by our generation to ensure that God’s work continues and the Gospel is heard by those who come after us.

In our parish we are enjoying the heritage left to us by previous generations, both in terms of our spiritual life and our beautiful buildings. Currently legacies are helping us to pay for such things as the extensive work required to St Andrew’s roof.

It is our privilege, as the church family, to continue this work for those who come after us. Legacies are both an act of thanksgiving to God and of witness to family and friends.

What will the church do with my legacy?
• Large amounts left in a will can be invested to secure ongoing income for the church
• Smaller amounts can help us to preserve the church building or fund a particular project
• Every legacy helps

Should I say how the legacy is to be used?
You may wish to leave money for a particular purpose such as the maintenance and upkeep of one of our churches or the purchase of a particular item for use in one of our churches. However, we also welcome donations to our Parish Development Fund because we can use the gift towards any on-going project adopted by the Parochial Church Council.

How do I make or amend my will?
Whilst it is possible to have a homemade will, these can easily lead to problems. It is far better to make your will properly with the help of a solicitor. This makes sure that it really does reflect your wishes. 

Before you visit your solicitor make a brief list of what you own and think about what you want to do. This will save time and costs. 

Make sure that you have the names and addresses written down for any legacies you wish to include in your will. The address for the parish is: The Parish of Kildwick, Cononley & Bradley, Thorn Hill, 2 Wheatlands Lane, Cross Hills, BD20 8SH. Our churches are: St Andrew’s Church in Kildwick, St John’s Church in Cononley, and St Mary’s Church in Bradley.

 If you have already made a will you will need to keep it up-to-date and it is a good idea to review it from time to time. If you wish to add a legacy to your existing will your solicitor will be able to prepare a short codicil to cover this.

Is there anything else I need to know?
If you would like to talk to someone about making a legacy to the parish before you visit your solicitor, please contact Rev’d Mike on 07300 171351, who will arrange to speak to you in strict confidence. This might be appropriate if you are thinking of leaving a legacy for a specific purpose