Important Information

To all new or recent Greeks/Cypriots on the running of the Church in the UK.


Our Church and Community strive to support the continuation of the Greek and Orthodox heritage and values. 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 year and are:

    Subscriptions are due at the beginning of the calendar year and remain as low as £35 per family and £20 per individual 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.


    Donations & Subscriptions to our Charity, No. 299645 are made to:

    The Greek Orthodox Community of Reading
    Account No 73694410
    Sort Code 20-1174

    For any enquiries, please contact out treasurer at treasurer@propheteliasreading.com



    Annual Membership Donations and The Benefits of Gift Aid.

    At the moment, our Church relies on your voluntary annual contributions (Annual Membership Donations), for which we are really grateful. These Membership donations, Gift Aid and all-year-round contributions, allow us to raise money for rent, paying the priests, the occasional Psaltes and the Greek Sunday School.

    If a person is a UK tax payer, we encourage these donations under the Gift Aid Rules that enable us to reclaim 25% of the donation. Please download and fill this form.

    By applying Gift Aid to one’s contributions/donations, it not only benefits Our Church, it also benefits the giver. We would ask you to consider using this scheme.