• History
• Structure
  • The Archbishops' Council
  • The Church Commissioners
  • Church of England Pensions Board
    • History
    • Pensions
    • Housing
    • Annual Reports
    • How you can help us
    • Organisation and Governance
    • Contact the Board
  • The Corporation of The Church House
  • General Synod
  • Legal Services
  • Ethical Investment Advisory Group
  • Dioceses Commission
• Facts and stats
• Our buildings
• Dioceses
• Work with other Churches
• Work with other faiths
• Vacancies

The Church of England Pensions Board provides retirement services set by the Church of England for those who have worked for or served the Church.

It was established in 1926 by the Church Assembly as the Church of England's pensions authority. Subsequently it was given wider powers in respect of discretionary benefits and the provision of retirement accommodation to those retired from the stipendiary ministry and their dependents.

Pensions

The Church of England Funded Pension Scheme (CEFPS) commenced on 1 January 1998 for the purpose of providing pensions and associated benefits for clergy and others in the stipendiary ministry. Pension benefits arising from service prior to 1998 is financed wholly by the Church Commissioners, but administered by the Board. The CEFPS held assets of £784.8m at the end of 2011. Its next actuarial valuation will be carried out as at 31 December 2012.

The Board is also corporate trustee of the Church Worker's Pension Fund (CWPF) providing pensions for the employees of over 200 organisations associated with the Church of England; and the Church Administrators Pension Fund (CAPF) for staff employed by the National Church Institutions.

Retirement Housing

At least one in four clergy retiring from the stipendiary ministry seeks our assistance in the provision of retirement housing.

Purpose of the retirement housing scheme - the Church Housing Assistance for the Retired Ministry (CHARM) - is to assist those vacating tied accommodation and who have not been able throughout their service and ministry to the Church to make their own provision for somewhere to live in retirement.

CHARM is a discretionary facility. The Board specifies a number of parameters relating to the size and type of property which is available, as well as the form and amount of assistance which is available.  

Rental housing is purchased through a loan agreement with Santander Corporate Banking. CHARM is subsidised by the wider Church of England through Vote 5 of the Archbishops' Council's Budget. The total grant for 2011 was £3.4m.

A shared ownership scheme was introduced in 2008. Properties are purchased by the Board in partnership with the customer who contributes a minimum of 25% of the property cost.

In total, the Board assists around 3,000 retired clergy households with their retirement housing.

Supported Housing, Nursing and Dementia Care

For over 60 years, the Board has been providing supported housing for those retired clergy and their dependants who wish to live as independently as possibly in a caring Christian community with access to a range of comprehensive support services.

The Board maintains seven supported housing schemes and one care home. Each scheme not only provides residents with a self-contained flat but also include dining facilities, meeting spaces, libraries, a chapel and communal grounds.

A specialist dementia care unit is in operation within the care home. At present this is a seven-bed unit which includes a communal dining area, a specialist bathing facilty, and a sensory garden with raised beds to promote interest and stimulation. The Board is currently looking to expand this area of its work.