Clergy Grants & Support
A number of welfare funds are available in the Diocese of Chichester for the support of licensed clergy, and in some cases ordinands and/or PTO or retired clergy, and/or clergy widows and widowers. For information regarding the following grants, please contact your Archdeacon in the first instance.
- Welfare Grants
- To meet immediate need, the Archdeacons can make grants from the Clergy Welfare fund of up to £1000.
- In consultation with the relevant Archdeacon, the Diocesan Secretary can make larger grants from the Poling fund, which in limited circumstances can also be made to e.g. clergy families and ordinands.
- The suffragan bishops make grants from two annual tranches of funds received from the Henry Smith Charity.
- The diocesan bishop makes occasional grants from annual funding received from the Queen Victoria Clergy Fund, usually in cases of more exceptional need.
- Elfinsward Grants for Retreats
Small grants of up to 50% of the cost of a retreat (capped at £250) are available to licensed clergy from the Elfinsward fund. Clergy can apply to their Archdeacon for one grant each calendar year. In case of high demand, preference will be given to those who have not received a grant in recent years. Clergy are also encouraged to ask their PCC for a modest contribution towards retreats, e.g. to cover travel expenses.
- Charitable Funds
Grants to assist clergy in a wide variety of circumstances are available from a number of trusts and foundations. In applying for help, it is important to target appropriately for your specific purpose and at the level you have in mind. A list of national charities can be found below. The diocese have also put together a hub for Cost of Living support.
- Continuing Ministerial Development
The diocese will fund training required as a result of identified CMD needs. Application forms are available from the Continuing Ministerial Development Officer. Enquiries must be made before going on a course. Parishes are also encouraged to contribute to their ministers’ ongoing learning needs.
Charities supporting clergy and their families
Wide ranging support for clergy and their dependents including grants but also support services including counselling, long-covid support, debt support, and wellbeing support for families with complex needs.
Frances Ashton’s Charity
francesashton@hotmail.co.uk / 07775 717606
Provides grants of variable amounts for needy clergy of the Church of England, serving or retired, and the widows or widowers of such clergy.
Foundation of Edward Storey
info@edwardstorey.org.uk / 01223 364 405
The Foundation is able to offer a certain number of grants and repayable grants each year to applicants in need. These can be awarded to: widows, widowers, divorced or separated spouses of clergy who have served in the Church of England and/or clergywomen, deaconesses, missionaries or other women professionally connected to the Church of England.
The Society for the Relief of Poor Clergymen
sec@srpc-aid.com
The Society makes grants toevangelical ministers and their dependants in times of financial distress due to sickness, bereavement or other difficulties.
CPAS Ministers in Training (MIT) fund
leadership@cpas.org.uk
Grants are given to ordinands during training who are in genuine need of financial support and are struggling with daily living expenses or unexpected costs.
The English Clergy Association
jon@jdhawkins.co.uk
Holiday grants are given, to make a significantly helpful contribution to clergy (and their family’s) enjoyment of human life. Holiday Grant applications are made to the Almoner: The Reverend Jonathan Hawkins 1a White Hart Lane, Haddenham, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP17 8BB.
Tranquillity House Trust
A grant-making charity whose particular function is to assist towards the cost of holidays for clergy, and in the making of awards it is required to have particular regard to those clergy who are for any reason in need. Nominations are made by the Bishop.
Dr George Richards’ Charity
g.richardscharity@tiscali.co.uk
Provides financial assistance to clergy of the Church of England forced to retire early owing to ill-health. Widows, widowers and dependants can also apply for assistance.
The Women’s Continuing Ministerial Education Trust
Application Guidance Notes / wcmet@churchofengland.org
The object of the WCMET is to further the Continuing Ministerial Education of women in the Church of England and the Scottish Episcopal Church by means of grants to ordained women, female Accredited Lay Workers (including Church Army sisters) and religious sisters (lay or ordained) who, in the opinion of the Trustees, are in need of financial assistance. The Trustees’ policy is to assist their work and professional ministry in areas that go beyond normal diocesan financial responsibilities or where normal diocesan resources are insufficient, for example in-service training, academic study, sabbaticals and travel.
Rustat Grants at Schools
The Dean, Jesus College, Cambridge CB5 8BL / 01223 339 421
The Trustees give assistance to needy clergy whose children are being educated in maintained schools. Although any deserving cases will be considered, they would particularly like to help clergy below the status of incumbent with children at school. Applications have to be approved and signed by the diocesan authorities, and should include a financial statement and details of children’s ages and schools. The Trustees are also able to provide bursaries for clergy children who gain a place to study at Jesus College. The intention is to attract good applicants from clergy families, and to supplement the successful candidates’ maintenance awards, reducing the need to take out student loans.
Pyncombe Charity
The Pyncombe Charity has a modest annual income specifically to give financial help to serving Church of England Clergy carrying the Bishop’s licence. Grants may be sought in times of difficulty due to illness, injury or other special circumstances relating to themselves, or their immediate family resident with them, although anything relating to education is excluded. Applications are made through the Diocesan Bishop. For information, contact the Clergy HR Officer.
The St George’s Trust
admin@fsje.org.uk
Make grants for sabbaticals and other recognised study (e.g. for SSMs). Trustees are keen to support sabbatical studies and in some cases gap year students wanting to work overseas.
St Luke’s for Clergy Wellbeing
medical@stlukesforclergy.org.uk
St Luke’s wants to help sustain your wellbeing and enable you to enjoy creative and fulfilling ministry. St Luke’s offer expert psychological wellbeing and mental health support to clergy, their spouses and children up to age 18.