Esther's story

Esther, a clergy spouse, lives with her husband, Matt, and three children, Elsy, Leon and Levi in the Diocese of Bath and Wells.

As well as facing the unique challenges of life and ministry that the family share with other clergy households - such as stretching the stipend to cover those unexpected costs which catch us all off-guard, like car repairs and new school uniforms - Levi has additional needs, and his older siblings are always on-hand to support their brother.

"If Levi has seizures and they're close, Elsy and Leon run to him, and catch him before his head hits the ground. They have to learn to do things in ways that are adaptive for him. Then there's also that level of expectation people have of them, as children of a priest. They carry an extra burden."

It was our privilege to support Esther and her family with Adult and Young carer support, as well as funding to buy a new cargo bike, to make life easier and more accessible for Levi. Thank you to the whole family for sharing their story with us.

Wearing a waistcoat, black shirt and white clerical collar, Albert is standing in front of a cherry blossom tree.

How did you first hear about Clergy Support Trust?

"When my husband was training, one of his friends, colleagues, told him about Clergy Support Trust. Once he was ordained, we applied for a Holiday grant, for a little seaside holiday with our family on the South Coast."
"We also received an Emergency grant towards car-related costs for our MOT and repairs, and a grant towards school uniforms when our kids started at a new school."
"My husband and I often reflect that life would not be financially sustainable without Clergy Support Trust."
"There would be no space for anything more than the absolute basics in life, especially right now as our youngest, Levi has additional needs and is at home, so I don't have the space to be able to work. It really is a lifeline for us."

Support for carers

"We received Adult carer support and Young carer support for myself and Levi's two siblings and - along with funding from a similar charity - we could afford a cargo bike for him."
"It was absolutely incredible because for us, because his bike was a lot of money, and we never would have been able to afford that. Levi can't walk for longer than five minutes and he has up to ten seizures a day."
"We moved to Bath last year, and it takes him to nursery, it takes us to the hospital, it takes him swimming, all of these ways that mean we don't have to drive."
"I have cried so many times when I've had kind emails from from the Trust about the bike, or when I first read about the support we could access. I sobbed. I think it was a feeling of being so seen."

Albert is wearing a black shirt, jacket and a white clerical collar. He is sat on a metal park bench.

What would you say to someone thinking of applying for the first time?

"Being a clergy family, you give so much that sometimes you don't even realise how much you're giving."
"There's this feeling of being unable to ask for things for yourself, for your family. But actually, as a clergy family, your highest calling is still to your family. Even if you're nervous, whatever is stopping you from asking for support, take confidence in that and definitely apply."
"In a world where everything feels like it's about scarcity and where even in the Church, it's about budget cuts - finding Clergy Support Trust felt like a culture shift. You know that help is going to make yours and your family's lives so much easier, and we're going to have more joy in our lives as a result."

We are concerned that more than 1 in 5 serving clergy rely on our help.

That’s why, as well as providing grants and services for those in need, we're working with the national Churches and others to develop longer-term solutions, so that every clergy household can thrive.

In 2024, we supported almost 2,800 households, with more than 7,300 grants. The demand for our services has quadrupled in the past five years, and continues to grow. We're only able to walk alongside clergy and their families with your help.

If you can make a donation through the link below, to help us continue to serve the people who spend their lives serving others, it would be greatly appreciated.

Donate today

NOTES FOR EDITORS

Photo credits: Clergy Support Trust x Jess Cheetham Photography.

Clergy Support Trust is the largest and oldest charity focussed on the wellbeing of clergy and their families. The Trust, originally founded in 1655, provides confidential help for Anglican clergy and their families across the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man, and Diocese in Europe. The Trust are confidential, independent, inclusive, and impartial, and we support clergy from training through to retirement.