Around 40 Church of England congregations will try out the electronic hand-held devices in response to concerns fewer people now carry coins and notes with them.
John Prest, national stewardship officer quote at the Church of England, told the Financial Times: "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."
Churches involved in the August pilot scheme have not yet been selected. It is anticipated there will be a mixture of younger and older congregations.
It will run during the harvest and Christmas periods - when churches typically experience a swell in their congregations - to help ensure the maximum numbers of people are involved.
If the idea is successful, every diocese will be offered the system next year. Another method will see the card readers left at the back of churches, for people to use on their way out.
Barclays found in March this year found 42 per cent of Brits now carry less cash on them than they did three years ago. The bank concluded charities may be missing out on donations worth more than £80 million because they only accept cash donations.