As vestry season unfolds, many parish councils and stewardship committees are taking stock of the year behind them and planning faithfully for what lies ahead. For some, this is the moment when a familiar refrain is heard: “We should really do more about legacy giving.”
It’s an area of stewardship that many churches aspire to strengthen but rarely find the right moment—or the right tools—to begin. Resources from secular charities don’t always translate to a faith-based context, and conversations about wills and bequests can feel awkward or out of place in the life of a congregation.
“We often hear from parishes that they want to start the conversation about legacy giving, but they’re not sure how,” says Michelle Hauser, Development & Communications Officer for the Anglican Foundation of Canada (AFC). “That’s exactly why we created the Legacy Talk Parish Toolkit—to make it easier, more natural, and more spiritually grounded.”
Rather than focusing on financial targets, Legacy Talk connects legacy giving to gratitude, discipleship, and hope for the future of the Church. Each seasonal toolkit aligns with the rhythms of the liturgical year, offering clergy and lay leaders reflections, bulletin inserts, sample messages, and practical templates that can be adapted to any parish setting.
Begin with Vestry Season: Planning with Purpose
Annual Vestry Reports and planning meetings provide a perfect opportunity to integrate legacy giving into the parish’s financial and spiritual vision.
For example, the Vestry Season Toolkit offers a Parish Council Checklist—simple, concrete steps that can help normalize legacy giving as part of a parish’s ongoing stewardship practice: Add legacy giving as a standing item in stewardship conversations; Include a legacy paragraph in the vestry report;
Ensure your website or bulletin mentions bequest options; Publicly thank legacy donors when appropriate.
“For many churches, the checklist is a great place to start—it helps parishes move from ‘we should do something’ to actually feeling confident about making legacy giving part of their spiritual DNA.”
From Lent to Christmas: A Year of Gratitude, Growth, and Faith
Across the seasons of the Church year, Legacy Talk offers practical ways to weave legacy giving into parish life—always grounded in faith rather than fundraising.
During Lent, parishes are invited to reflect on what they treasure and why, exploring legacy giving as a spiritual practice rooted in love and intention.
The Easter to Pentecost toolkit celebrates growth and gratitude, encouraging churches to see legacy gifts as seeds of faith—planted today to bless the Church of tomorrow.
In Ordinary Time, the focus shifts to steady, everyday stewardship through simple reflections and conversation tools that keep faith communities engaged year-round.
As All Saints’ approaches, parishes are encouraged to remember, honour, and plan—giving thanks for those whose generosity built the Church we inherit and asking, “What legacy will we leave?”
Finally, Advent and Christmas offer a natural moment to express gratitude and hope, reminding us that every generation helps “prepare a place” for those who will follow.
“It is our hope that using Legacy Talk as a guide will help parishes build a rhythm of gratitude and generosity,” says Hauser, “and that 2026 will be the year more church communities feel inspired to take that next faithful step—turning good intentions into lasting impact.”
To explore or download the full series, visit the Anglican Foundation website: anglicanfoundation.org/legacytalk.
