Saving the Parish… now and for the future
Save the Parish is here to help you fight for your parish.
Advice for parishes facing an uncertain future
Welcome
Chief among the treasures of the Church of England is its parish system: the church, embedded in communities across the nation, served by priests dwelling among the people they serve, resourcing the laity who come to hear “the pure Word of God preached and the sacraments be duly ministered”.
Save the Parish is a grassroots movement working to resource the parish system across the nation, ensuring the poorest communities are not abandoned, and that dioceses and the national church have, at their core, the call to put their parishes first.
By returning the billions of Church Commissioners’ assets to the funding of ordinary parish ministry, and streamlining the bloated costs and duplicated activities of dioceses, the Church could reignite a passion for Christ across the nation, bubbling up from the thousands of communities to which she ministers.
The Revd Marcus Walker, Chair of Save The Parish
A WIN AT general synod
For the first time since the setting-up of Save the Parish three and a half years ago we have really good news to share: a change in the law which will put parishes back at the top of the Church of England’s spending criteria.
Latest News
A tribute to Clive Billeness
General Synod representative and Audit Committee member, Clive Billeness passed away in February. He was a passionate advocate for the victims of abuse, and genial member of the financial scrutiny team of Save The Parish
Diocesan Finances Review Update 2025
At the February 2025 General Synod, Carl Hughes, the Chair of the Archbishops’ Council Finance Committee, gave an update on the Diocesan Finances Review.
A Win at General Synod
The Reverend Marcus Walker reports back on the important vote that took place at General Synod last week which will put parishes back at the top of the Church of England’s spending criteria
Parish funding could be cut
In Emma Thompson’s column for The Times this week, she reminds us of the core purpose of the fund now managed by the Church Commissioners and its theological underpinning, in light the General Synod debate this week to reform how funding is used.
Synod, seize chance to refund poorest parishes
The National Church Governance Measure presents a chance to redirect money where it is needed most, says Marcus Walker
A Tale of Parish Ministry
A curate shares his parish story and concludes that a parish priest with a degree of energy, a smidgen of awareness, a willingness to roll their sleeves up and a desire to see their church grow can do great things if given time and focus on a single parish.
Our Purpose
That the church and its leaders recognise in deed and word that its greatest treasure is the parish system – composed of its people, clergy, and churches – and pledge to redirect the resources necessary to its flourishing, both in this generation and for the generations to come.
We will achieve this through:
Quotes of Support
You are not alone – parishes matter and people who love the parish are speaking out: