Further vital grant funding from the Church of England, announced today.
Following a £2 million grant from the Church of England last year, the Church has once again pledged to support the Trust and the clergy for whom they are responsible, with a further £500,000 grant. This is in addition to a £100,000 grant awarded to our friends at St Luke's for Clergy Wellbeing.
In 2025, Clergy Support Trust once again helped record numbers of people, providing over 7,000 grants to more than 2,900 households. The vast majority of applicants were from serving clergy households in the Church of England, with the Trust supporting over a fifth of all serving CoE ministers in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
This grant from the Archbishops’ Council will help clergy with vital everyday expenses - such as the significant energy costs that come with keeping a vicarage warm, unexpected car repairs, and school uniforms and trips for clergy children - allowing them to focus on and thrive in their ministries. The Trust also provides a wide range of other grants and services, including counselling, coaching and occupational therapies.
Combined with the upcoming increase of 10.7% to the parish stipend for serving Church of England clergy, this marks a significant shift in how the Church cares for its people.
Our comment
"The Church of England represents over 85% of the Trust's work, and its people have faced some difficult days over the past few years. The Church's own research shows that many clergy are anxious about their finances. This grant from the Archbishops' Council is an important recognition of that, as well as of our applicants' extraordinary ministry."
"For too many, that ministry - so often a great joy - comes with real challenges, and we are delighted that the Church continues to work hard to find ways of improving the financial, mental and physical health of its clergy, in partnership with Clergy Support Trust and others."
The Revd Ben Cahill-Nicholls
Chief Executive, Clergy Support Trust
Frequently asked questions
What does this mean for your applicants?
Nothing about our grants and services will change.
We will continue to provide the same range of support, from Emergency grants for those unexpected costs, to a helping hand through Counselling and/or Coaching.
We are confidential, independent, impartial and inclusive, and are committed to staying that way. No identifiable information on our applicants, the grants applied for, or any information given in confidence will be shared with the Church of England.
This funding is very welcome, and will go some way towards the much-needed essential support we already provide to clergy households. Please use our Eligibility Checker to see how the Trust may be able to support you.
Our conversations with senior church leaders will not stop, and as a leading voice for clergy, we will similarly not stop pushing for better support for our applicants. In fact, a strong, compelling voice to advocate for clergy is one of the key objectives in our new 2026-28 Strategy.
Do you need donations?
Donations, gifts in Wills, Church collections, welcoming new Stewards - your generosity remains vital, so we can be there for every clergy household who comes to us in need.
We are continuing to dip into our reserves - risking our ability to weather future economic storms - but we are committed to helping clergy and their families and continuing to be an independent lifeline for people who are struggling.
We can only do what we do thanks to the generosity of our wonderful supporters, like you, who recognise the selflessness of clergy in serving their communities, often to the detriment of their own financial and emotional wellbeing.
If you feel able, please consider making a donation.
Are you partnering with the Church of England?
We remain a completely independent charity, and do not report to the Church of England.
However, we believe firmly that partnership solutions are essential in the area of clergy wellbeing and finance, including with other charities, dioceses, organisations and the national Churches.
But confidentiality is and will always be a cornerstone of the Trust's work - and this announcement doesn't change that in any way.
My household is part of a different national Church / I am retired. Can I still get support?
Of course!
We continue to support serving clergy, retired clergy, their partners, former partners, widow(er)s and dependent children in the Church of England (including the Diocese in Europe and the Diocese of Sodor and Man), Church in Wales, Church of Ireland and the Scottish Episcopal Church.
Please use our Eligibility Checker to see how the Trust may be able to support you.