CofE parishes giving more in spite of troubled economy

The economic turmoil of the last few years has not affected the giving of parishes in the Church of England, new statistics show.

Latest figures show that the tax-efficient planned giving of parishioners increased in 2008 despite the economic instability, whilst bishops have reduced their expenditures by around £400,000.

Average weekly giving per parishioner was up from £9.65 the previous year to £9.77, while the total income of parishes broke the £900 million mark for the first time, a 10% increase from £898 million in 2007 to £925 million in 2008.

Legacy giving also reached a new high of £48.1 million in 2008.

Dr John Preston, the Church’s National Stewardship and Resources Officer, said: “Whilst recent figures for giving to the wider charity sector have shown a dip, giving to parishes in 2008 saw a further increase to record levels, a sign of the high level of commitment that so many have to supporting the mission and ministry of their local parish church.”

In 2009, another 491 people were put forward for ordination training, amounting to a total of 1,338. The number of new clergy ordained in the same year was 564, just 10 less than in 2008 and 77 more than in 2006.

Of the clergy ordained last year, 309 were entering full-time paid ministry, compared with 321 in 2008 and 226 in 2006.

In total, the Church of England experienced a net loss of 128 fulltime paid clergy, compared with 182 in 2006. Some of the losses were due to retirement.

The head of research and statistics for the Archbishops’ Council, the Rev Preb Lynda Barley, was optimistic about the figures.

“It is encouraging that the Church is responding confidently to the challenge that the changing age profile of our nation brings, with one in six of those in training being under 30 years of age.”

The figures also revealed that the number of parishes being overseen by flying bishops has risen by 22.6% since 2000 to 363 parishes – just under 3% of all Church of England parishes.

The number of parishes under Resolution A, which gives them the power to refuse women as the minister presiding at or celebrating the Holy Communion, fell in the last 10 years by 4.1% to make up 6.2% of the parishes in the Church of England in 2009.