Church Commissioners for England

The Church Commissioners for England, established in 1948 through the merger of Queen Anne's Bounty (1704) and the Ecclesiastical Commissioners (1836), is a registered charity and statutory body stewarding a £11.1 billion permanent endowment to provide sustainable financial support for the Church of England’s mission. Its core ethos emphasizes ethical investment, accountability, good governance, social justice, and reparative action—such as a £100 million fund addressing historic links to transatlantic slavery—prioritizing clergy provision in resource-poor areas, church growth, and long-term impact across generations.

Funding focuses on frontline parish and diocesan ministry, urgent repairs to church buildings in deprived parishes, cathedrals, bishops’ ministries, leadership development, innovation for new mission models, safeguarding, clergy wellbeing, heritage maintenance, and diverse youth engagement. Key programmes include Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment (SMMI), diocesan grants for local priorities, and special funds for abuse victims and historic injustices, with £1.2 billion allocated for 2023–25 as part of a £4.6 billion nine-year commitment. Beneficiaries are exclusively Church of England entities—parishes, dioceses, cathedrals, and clergy—serving low-income, under-resourced communities in England.

Eligibility is restricted to Church of England bodies (medium to large scale preferred, no strict income thresholds) operating solely in England, with a Christian-only focus. Applications are invite-only via dioceses or church structures; no unsolicited proposals or public portals/deadlines exist, with decisions at trustee meetings aligned to strategic cycles. Grants range from tens of thousands to millions of pounds (e.g., £202,500 for repairs). They exclude non-Church charities, generalist causes, or projects outside the Church’s vision, distinguishing them as the UK’s largest landowner and specialized funder for equitable Church transformation in high-need areas.