The Catholic Church in London is considering contactless collections as one of a number of possible options to make donations easier for parishioners and visitors in our increasingly "cashless society".
Several Catholic parishes in the Diocese of Westminster have already taken up the chance to allow parishioners to donate via text message on their mobile phone. All parishes have had a code made available to them to allow them do do this, and the diocese said a few had already begun using this technology.
It comes as the Church of England is trialling contactless collections in an experiment that is now moving into cathedrals.
Worshippers at cathedrals including Guildford and Liverpool are to be encouraged to make donations by credit or debit card instead of putting cash in a collection plate or box. It is hoped the scheme will lead to an increase in donations, which at cathedrals where entry is free can be as low as 30p per person.
Earlier this year the Church of England announced its plans for the "tap and go" contactless payments where around 60 parish churches were given handheld terminals to process card payments.
The aim is to offer the scheme, run by Parish Buying, to every diocese next year.
John Preston, national stewardship officer, said earlier this year: "We're aware that younger generations - and there are many people now who don't carry cash - want to give in different ways. Enabling them to give in a way that suits them is something we'd like to try."
A spokeswoman for the Diocese of Westminster told The Tablet: "Now as we move into more of a cashless society, we want to make it easier for parishioners as well as visitors. The diocese is considering contactless collections as one of a number of possible options for the future."
(Pic of Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral by Michael Beckwith on Unsplash)
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