What did we achieve in 2023?

Once again, we've supported more clergy than ever before.

In 2021, we were privileged to support more clergy households than in any other year, providing £3.3m to 1,600 households.

In 2022, the need for support grew and we awarded over £4.9m in grants to 2,300 Anglican clergy and their families.

In 2023, we served those who serve with an unprecedented £6.2m across 2,700 households. The demand for our services continues to grow; in fact, the number of grants we process has quadrupled in the past four years.

This rapid growth in demand is indicative of the very real challenges facing clergy in their lives and ministry, and experienced alongside the communities they live in and serve.

For example, we've seen a 27% increase in the number of grants awarded to cover general living expenses, for essentials like clothing, in the cost-of-living crisis.

An average of 2.5 grants per household

Clergy Support Trust are there in times of need, to help Anglican clergy and their families to thrive, not just to survive.

Many of our applicants who come to us for the first time are hesitant to seek support. They serve their communities, and so to in turn be served by the Trust in their lives and ministry can be a strange role reversal.

When applicants log in, the Home Page of our new application system suggests grants they may never have considered, based on their application history and the information they have provided.

Applicants may seek us out because their washing machine has broken or they can no longer ignore the concerning noise their car has been making - many are relieved to realise we can support them with counselling or insomnia therapy too.

Clergy on the move

In our 2022 Impact Survey, applicants reported that of all of the pressures in life and ministry, the cost-of-living crisis was having the biggest negative impact on their wellbeing.

Interestingly, we saw a 14% decrease in applications to support with energy costs in 2023. However, while utility bills may have proved less of a problem, the cost of travel to support their congregations remains a key challenge.

The value of the grants we awarded for car deposits last year grew by 61%. We also provided 41% more funds to support with general car-related costs, like emergency repairs, insurance and MOTs.