£2m funding announced to support clergy with financial wellbeing

The Archbishops’ Council has agreed the funding for the Trust, which last year provided more than 6,300 grants to Church of England clergy.

The grant has been made as work is under way by the Church of England to review the value of clergy stipends and pensions within a wider review of finances across the church. 

The Bishop of Chester, Mark Tanner (pictured), who is Chair of the Church of England’s Ministry Development Board, said:  

“This award recognises the financial pressures facing our dedicated and hard-working clergy across the country who do so much to serve their communities. 

“I am very grateful to the Archbishops’ Council for making this money available to Clergy Support Trust’s grants programme this year, as a contribution to its wonderful support for our clergy and their families.” 

Figures from Clergy Support Trust show that in the last year it provided financial support to 22% of serving Church of England clergy - including grants for fundamentals of ministry and daily life, such as laptops, car repairs, school uniforms and domestic appliances.  

Chief Executive of Clergy Support Trust, The Rev Ben Cahill-Nicholls, said: “Ministry is a joy, but comes with significant challenges; for too many clergy, those challenges are financial. Today’s announcement is a very positive step forward, as the Church continues to acknowledge that more must be done, and it has been good to work together on longer-term, sustainable solutions, including improvements to the stipend. 

“Clergy wellbeing is not a peripheral issue, but essential to the mission and ministry of the Church. This funding will contribute positively to the broad programme of grants and services which CST is privileged to offer, as we seek to serve those extraordinary women and men who spend their lives serving others.”