Churches in the UK are now accepting Apple Pay and contactless payments
In an increasingly cashless world, the need to carry physical money is rapidly on the way out. And, one institution that previously relied on physical cash for donations are making big changes to adapt.
The Church of England introduced contactless card terminals at thousands of sites in an effort to make "donations and transactions faster and easier for their congregations." 16,000 churches, cathedrals, and religious sites in the UK now accept contactless donations, including Apple Pay and Google Pay.
In a statement emailed to Mashable, a spokesperson for CofE said the Church is seeking to "revolutionise" how its congregations can donate to the collection plate, in addition to providing a payment option for weddings, christenings, church fetes, and even funerals.
The terminals are powered by London-based fintech company SumUp, which can be used to take contactless payments, Chip & Pin payments, and accept Google Pay and Apple Pay, too. According to SumUp, the church is charged a small transaction fee whenever the reader is used.
Alison Davie, secretary at St George’s Church, Stamford in Lincolnshire, says the technology has been a "useful addition" to their church. "Our parishioners can occasionally find themselves strapped for physical cash, so it’s fantastic to be able to offer an alternative which is quick and convenient," says Davie.
"We hope this is a step forward for St George’s and many other churches like it, in staying ahead in the modern era," Davie continues.
Rachel Thompson is the Features Editor at Mashable. Rachel's second non-fiction book The Love Fix: Reclaiming Intimacy in a Disconnected World is out now, published by Penguin Random House in Jan. 2025. The Love Fix explores why dating feels so hard right now, why we experience difficult emotions in the realm of love, and how we can change our dating culture for the better.
A leading sex and dating writer in the UK, Rachel has written for GQ, The Guardian, The Sunday Times Style, The Telegraph, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Stylist, ELLE, The i Paper, Refinery29, and many more.
Rachel's first book Rough: How Violence Has Found Its Way Into the Bedroom And What We Can Do About It, a non-fiction investigation into sexual violence was published by Penguin Random House in 2021.
