The Revd Paul Taylor and his wife, Jo live in Southport, Merseyside. The couple are long-standing applicants to Clergy Support Trust, receiving support during Paul's training, ministry and now retirement.
Paul retired early due to mental health challenges, and later received a diagnosis of bipolar, a disorder which can cause cause extreme switches between high and low moods.
As well as supporting them with the common challenges that they share with many clergy families - including covering those unexpected car repair bills, and enabling them to take a cherished family holiday - we were privileged to help fund his visit to The Sheldon Retreat Centre.
A Christian community offering retreats to clergy and/or their spouses/partners, especially at times of stress, crisis, burnout or breakdown, we've provided Sheldon with over £200,000 in funding over the past four years, to enable over 400 week-long residential visits and one-to-one support sessions.
"If it hadn't been for the Trust, with the various grants that we've had from them, I'm not sure how we would have coped over the vast number of years. We're so grateful."
Paul's mental health journey
"When I retired, and was struggling with my bipolar, I was recommended Sheldon."
"I knew that I'd really benefit from it, but it was a lot of money, and unfortunately, the diocese couldn't pay for it. It can feel like you're writing a begging letter when you're approaching a diocese for any form of financial support. It was such a shame."
"It was only after a couple of years that I'd been retired that a psychiatrist and mental health team actually identified that what I was experiencing was bipolar. I thought 'Oh my goodness. That explains the past thirty odd years!'"
"Clergy Support Trust helped to fund my visit to Sheldon, and I really benefitted from it. The retreat was a great help in my coming-to-recovery phase, which was slow. It was really, really helpful. I just couldn't have done it without that grant."
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. This includes our advocacy work, which recently led to the uplift of the clergy stipend.
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.