Text, mobile, online … and all other forms of digital giving have only been on the scene for the past 20 years or so. In fact, the first forms of online giving only started happening around 1996.

Prior to that, churches received tithes and offerings from faithful members and supporters in the forms of cash or check placed into the offering basket during service.

The tradition of “passing the plate” has been around since the late 19th century. Do the rough math and you’ll see that the offering plate has been in active service every week for well over 100 years!

Passing the plate worked for a long time and continues to work even today, but times are-a-changin’.

Churches realize that people — their members — bank online, buy their coffee or take a cab with an app, and check in at the gate using their mobile phone.

A 342 Year Old Episcopal Church Goes Digital!

I get to speak to pastors and church leadership all day about how church giving is moving mobile, but my recent call with Bruton Parish, a 342 year old Episcopal church, was one of those calls I’ll never forget.

CFO Dudley Hoyle and the team at Bruton Parish had been researching giving providers for some time and, like thousands of other churches using Tithe.ly, decided to upgrade the offering plate so that they could bring modern and convenient ways of giving to their members.

To put this conversation into perspective— Bruton Parish was around before paper currency was officially recognized by the government.

The Bruton Parish team spent a lot of time researching mobile giving tools were looking to make things easier for their parishioners to give. They asked all the right questions and after doing their diligence, decided Tithe.ly was the right fit.

Why did Bruton Parish Chose Tithe.ly?

The convenience giving with Tithe.ly brings to their congregation.The speed and simplicity of giving via text message in 3 seconds or less.The fact that they could offer online, mobile, and true text giving all from one platform.The fair and clear upfront pricing.

We are excited to begin using Tithe.ly and appreciate the one-on-one help getting started. Our main goal is to make giving easier, beginning this month with a short campaign we have planned. It seems people are coming to expect one-step online donations and we don’t want to miss out.

— Marty Easton, Campaign for the Fourth Century, Bruton Parish Church, Williamsburg, VA

Bruton Parish is now set up and ready to start accepting their tithes and offering online, but they aren’t the only ones.

10 Historical Churches that Decided to use Tithe.ly to Upgrade the Offering Plate!

Bruton Parish Episcopal Church. Established in 1674. 342 years ago!

St. John’s Lutheran Church opened in 1770. That’s 246 years old!Midway United Methodist Church opened it’s doors in the 1830s.First Congregational United Church of Christ begun in 1837.St. Mary of Victories Catholic Church was established in 1844.The Forest Methodist Church was founded in 1861.Grace Episcopal Church started in the late 1800s.Saint Benedict Parish was established in 1920.Holy Trinity Parish in Vancouver Canada was established in 1948.Northminster Presbyterian Church was established in 1957.

It’s fun to see churches that have been serving God and his people for hundreds of years making a move to digital giving. We’re encouraged by their efforts and excited to support them as they go through the transformation!

Do you know any older churches who need to modernize their giving methods? Send them our way and we will gladly give them the red carpet treatment!