Save the Parish (STP) welcomes today’s announcement from the Triennium Funding Working Group (TFWG) of a significant increase in support for the Church of England’s poorest parishes. This is a crucial step forward—one that reflects the tireless advocacy of our grassroots movement to restore the Church’s core mission: thriving parish ministry in communities across the nation. Save the Parish’s formal submission to the TFWG explicitly called for increasing LInC funding, and we are pleased to see our recommendations reflected in today’s announcement.
However, the Revd Marcus Walker, Chair of Save the Parish, expressed concerns about the implementation approach:
“Alleluia! The Church of England has decided to give some of the billions it was left to fund parish ministry back to poorer parishes. This is good news and we’re delighted the Church is listening to Save the Parish.
But it’s not all good: they’ve decided to tie that money up in their failed Vision and Strategy and make parishes dance like performing monkeys for the money that’s rightfully theirs. We had hoped they’d learned from the costly failures of the last decade not to do this.”
A Step Forward—But Not Far Enough
While we wholeheartedly welcome the increased funding for Lowest Income Communities (LInC), it is clear that the Church of England’s substantial resources could be further rebalanced to strengthen parish life. The current imbalance in how these funds are allocated means that many parishes—especially in the most deprived areas—are left with fewer clergy and less support than they could have, making it harder to provide regular worship, pastoral care, and vital community presence.
The abolition of diocesan apportionment is another positive move. For years, Save the Parish has highlighted how this bureaucratic loop siphoned resources away from frontline ministry. Its removal is a victory for common sense and for local churches.
What’s Still Missing
Despite these gains, the Church’s approach remains overly cautious. Instead of investing in long-term, sustainable parish ministry, too much is still tied up in short-term projects and complex grant applications. The central Church continues to make parishes “jump through hoops” to access funds that, by law and by legacy, should be theirs.
We urge the Church to:
- Release More Funds for Parish Clergy: There is clear potential to provide more support for stipendiary clergy, ensuring more parishes have the priests they need.
- Cut Red Tape: Direct funding to parishes, not through endless grant applications, allowing local churches to focus on serving their communities rather than on paperwork.
- Prioritise Long-Term Stability: Invest in sustainable, ongoing support for parish ministry – not just short-term projects — so every community, rich or poor, can rely on their local church.
A Call for Courage and Transparency
The Church of England’s parish system is its greatest asset—serving people from cradle to grave, in every corner of the nation. With 40% of church closures occurring in the 10% most deprived areas, bold leadership and full transparency are urgently needed to champion how much can, and should, be given to support parish life.
Save the Parish will continue to hold the Church to account, fighting for a funding system that puts parishes and people first, and ensures the Church’s historic wealth is used as intended: for the cure of souls in every parish.