General Synod Papers
Figures in these documents written by the National Church authorities may well vary from figures in documents on this website prepared by Save The Parish. This is for two main reasons: Firstly, we only have audited and published financial information up to 2024. Secondly, in church financial documents there are large variations in definitions such as ‘Parish Ministry’ and therefore differences in which items of income and expenditure come under any particular heading.
Funding our Church’s Mission
This paper prepared by the National Church provides some background factual information on how funds made available for distribution from the Church’s national endowment managed by the Church Commissioners are currently used to support our Church mission and ministry to the nation. It also signposts where further information can be found
An Overview of the Economy of the Church
The first draft of this information pack prepared by the National Church is presented here. It draws on work from across the National Church Institutions, bringing together evidence on population change, patterns of faith and church participation, current funding arrangements and the history that has shaped them.
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 package of costed recommendations have been developed for consideration by the Archbishops’ Council as part of the Three Year Spending Plans of central Church endowment income for 2026-28. The proposals include increasing Lowest Income Communities Funding (LInC) by 30%; providing time-limited additional financial support to dioceses as they pursue longer term strategies for growth and sustainability; abolishing Diocesan Apportionment (payments from dioceses into the central Church); streamlining the funding of ordination training and associated costs; increasing and standardising clergy stipends and pay policies; increasing the starting rate of pensions; and providing for more detailed work to address structural overheads, duplication and complexity. The proposals recognise the immediate financial pressures on dioceses [it might have mentioned parishes!] and the need to ease this stress, whilst enabling change within a longer term mission, financial and people plan for sustainability and flourishing, as well as seeking to simplify complex, opaque and burdensome arrangements currently in place.
Some of the language is difficult to follow for the unfamiliar, but the general trend is to try to find more funding for parishes through increased LInC and improving stipend and pension for clergy. Save The Parish is being heard.