The Church Commissioners

Our Purpose

The Church Commissioners exist to support the mission and ministry of the Church of England — now and for future generations. We manage the Church’s permanent endowment fund so that the returns on our investments can be used to resource ministry, growth, and community across parishes, dioceses and cathedrals.

Who We Are

  • We are a registered charity accountable to Parliament, the General Synod of the Church of England, and the Charity Commission. 

  • Our organisation was founded in 1948, inheriting the historic endowments of earlier institutions (notably Queen Anne’s Bounty and Ecclesiastical Commissioners). 

  • We are governed by 33 Commissioners. Six of these hold Office of State ex officio, while the remaining 27 form the Board of Governors — our main policy-making body. 

  • Our Board includes a mix of elected and appointed members: some chosen by the General Synod or cathedral deans; others appointed by the Crown or Archbishops, often for their specialist expertise (e.g. in investment, legal, actuarial or property matters). 

  • View our leadership here

Church-Facing Commissioner Teams

There are three Church-facing Commissioner Teams:

  • The Church Buildings team of c. 35 colleagues supports dioceses and parishes with the care, conservation and development of historic church buildings, advises on permissions for changes to church buildings and provides guidance on architectural and heritage matters. It helps churches adapt for worship and community use and works with government to advise on policies that affect church buildings.
  • The Mission & Pastoral Services team of c. 10 colleagues supports the creation, merger and closure of parishes and benefices.  It oversees the adjustment of parish boundaries, supports dioceses on the legal framework for pastoral change, and handles the legal steps when a church building is no longer required for public worship, including finding suitable alternative uses or disposal.
  • The Bishoprics & Cathedrals team of c. 40 colleagues advises on the provision of suitable housing and office accommodation for diocesan bishops and archbishops, funding bishops’ working costs, and supporting cathedrals in their governance and sustainability.  It also oversees Lambeth Palace Library, the historic library and record office of the Archbishops of Canterbury and the main archive for the documentary history of the Church of England.

Central Support and Governance

Overall, there are c. 10 colleagues in the Central support and governance team:

  • The Commissioners’ Secretariat team supports the Chief Executive, senior trustees and Board in all aspects of their governance.
  • The Engagement Manager is responsible for working closely with a wide variety of Commissioners’ teams to help ensure that the Church Commissioners has effective engagement with a wide variety of Stakeholders.
  • The Strategic Programme management team varies in size depending on the strategic projects currently underway (see below for further details).

Church of England Central Services (ChECS)

The Church Commissioners is supported by a number of keyenabling teams which are part of the Church of England Central Services. This NCI consists of Finance, Assurance, Technology, Data, Project Management, Communications and Legal teams. The ChECS team is c. 150 colleagues.

What We Do

Stewardship of the Endowment Fund

We manage a diversified investment portfolio — including securities, property, and alternative assets — and do so in a manner consistent with responsible and ethical investing. Our aim is to generate sustainable returns so that we can meet our obligations and continue funding the work of the Church over the long term.

At the end of 2024, our total fund was valued at approximately £11.1 billion.

Funding Ministry, Mission and Growth

Proceeds from our investments are deployed to:

  • Support parishes, dioceses and cathedrals — especially those serving communities in need. 

  • Enable mission-driven projects, community outreach, and church-planting initiatives. 

  • Fund the stipends, living costs, housing and ministry of bishops, archbishops and other senior clergy. 

  • Provide for cathedral ministry by funding staff costs (including stipends and pensions for deans and clergy) — freeing local resources for mission and community engagement. 

  • Meet historic commitments — for example, pensions of clergy whose service ended before 1998.

Governance and Accountability

We are committed to high standards of governance, transparency and ethical stewardship. Our operations are subject to oversight by Parliament, the General Synod, and the Charity Commission. 

Strategically, we aim to:

  • Ensure our funding is intentionally used for mission and growth. 

  • Maintain a diversified, ethically managed investment portfolio that balances risk, return, and long-term stability. 

  • Target support where it is most needed — including under-resourced parishes, deprived or low-income communities, and areas of opportunity for growth.

How We Invest — Responsibly

As a faith-based investor, we place great emphasis on responsible investment. Our decisions are guided by Christian values, and we deliberately avoid investments in sectors we consider morally problematic. 

We recognise that long-term financial and social stability depends on addressing systemic risks — including climate change, environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, and social inequality. Our investment strategy therefore seeks to balance financial returns with a commitment to ethical stewardship and social responsibility. 

Our Legacy and Strategic Role

The Church Commissioners trace their heritage back through centuries of church history — continuing and adapting the mission of earlier funds established to support clergy and church ministry.

Today, we play a vital role in enabling the Church of England to remain a Christian presence across every community: through funding, financial stability, strategic support, and responsible stewardship of resources. We help ensure the Church can respond to present needs, meet future challenges, and continue serving communities across England for generations to come.

Contact & Governance Information

Registered Charity: 1140097 
Headquarters: Church House, Great Smith Street, London, SW1P 3AZ 

If you’d like to find out more — about our investments, funding programmes, stewardship policies, or how resources are distributed — please contact us via the details above or visit the Church of England website.

You can find the latest Church Commissioners annual report here