DONATIONS

As with all Greek Orthodox Churches in the UK, our Church does not receive ANY governmental or other type of funding. The survival of our Church is entirely reliant on the financial support and volunteering of the members of our Community.

Preparing the Holy Bread (i.e. ‘Prosphoron’) for the Holy Eucharist, assisting the priest in the Altar during Services, helping with chanting, cleaning the Church and preparing treats, which are offered to the whole congregation after each Divine Liturgy, are some characteristic examples of voluntary activities.

Your financial contribution and/or any other type of support you are able to offer to our Church and Community will be most welcome and greatly appreciated. May St. Prophet Elias consistently intercede to God for you and your families!

Church Subscriptions

Everyone is welcome to join us in our services, whether they have paid a subscription or not!

Prophet Elias church is totally dependent on funding by its congregation. The costs of running the church are considerable - around £22,000 per annum. The main expenses are for rent and church services at £16,000 and school education £4,000.

The amounts collected from subscriptions amount to less than 10% of the total amount required to run the church. The balance is obtained from Church collections and donations and fundraising such as coffee mornings and dinner/dances.

Once you have paid for your subscription you can:

• Vote for committee members.

• Be eligible to be elected a committee member.

• Arrange a baptism or wedding.

• Enroll your children in the Greek School.

Subscriptions are due at the beginning of the calendar year and remain as low as £50 per family, £25 per individual (professional), and £20 per pensioner/student for the whole year. Concessions will be considered for those who experience financial hardship. Higher subscription amounts are most welcome and duly appreciated. On paying your subscription, or any other donation to the church, please indicate it, if you are a UK taxpayer, so that our church charity benefits from the gift aid.

IN SEARCH OF OUR OWN CHURCH BUILDING

Our Orthodox Christian Community of Prophet Elias, Reading since its foundation in 1977, has gratefully rented the Church and Hall from our Anglican brethren, albeit under restricted use over 49 years.

Thanks to the valiant efforts and contributions of our Priests, our Church members, our Trustees and numerous volunteer Parishioners, our numbers have increased substantially. So have the numbers of our Greek language School students.

Following our members demands to acquire our own premises suitable to our needs, our Community and the Trustee Committees decided to purchase our own Church and Hall. For this purpose we are currently actively involved in negotiations with prospective Sellers of a suitable property within the Berkshire area.

The realisation of our noble project will enable us to have many more services, more teaching hours for our Greek language School and many more cultural, social and philanthropic events and activities for the benefit not only of our Community but that of the wider society of Berkshire and beyond. Your contribution of whatever amount, for which we are most grateful, will enable us to realise our dream.

In every Divine Liturgy we pray for the well-being of the founders, donors and supporters of our church, as well for the rest of those who have departed from this life. We pledge to do this for everyone who contributes to our campaign. Please let us know if you wish to make any contributions for the memory of any of your relatives or beloved, or if you would like us to pray especially for anyone who is in need, medical or otherwise.

Click on the below icons and donate now!