Since completing her curacy in June, The Revd Donna McDowell balances her time between her role as an Assistant Priest at a church in Twickenham, and as a Chaplain at the local school.
As well as the challenge of starting a new role in a new area, Donna also had to balance the stress of terrible tooth pain, a nightmare dentist and - in order to get it fixed - an eye-watering dental bill.
Donna has previously reached out to the Trust for a Wellbeing grant towards the cost of a holiday to Canada, to visit old friends and family from her time living in Vancouver. She'd also receive support through our Counselling Service after her parents passed away.
She was pleasantly surprised to find that we were also able to help soften the blow of the dental bill. Below, she talks about her experience of applying, as well as what more could be done by the national Churches to combat the isolation and burnout experienced by many serving clergy.
What would you say to someone thinking of applying for the first time?
"Oh, my goodness. Don't hesitate at all!"
"I had a wonderful experience the first time I applied. The person I was in touch with made me feel like Clergy Support Trust was there to help and enable me, that there was nothing to be embarrassed about, and that I should feel no shame whatsoever."
"They gave me so much time and attention, and treated me with such respect. The Trust want to see you thrive and flourish, not just survive. So, yeah, I'm super encouraging of other clergy to do it."
What could be done to better support clergy with isolation and burnout?
"There are some very good people who are working very hard to put wellbeing near the top of the agenda, when it comes to thinking about the future of the Church and of its clergy."
"I think having a real diversity of leadership helps; female bishops, bishops of colour, bishops who have had their formation in different cultural contexts."
"I think that's all really, really important because then you've got people who are able to sense and to listen to things that others may have found more difficult to hear or to feel. Through that, we're becoming a Church that is doing a better job at really listening."
"For example, in the Diocese of London, there's been lots of conversations around menopause. It's a more recent thing for the Church to have to think about, but so vitally important now that more and more women are coming into the priesthood."
"It's something that can be debilitating for women and frustrating and difficult for their partners and families to have to deal with as well. Just the fact that we're having those conversations is really good institutionally."
We are concerned that more than 1 in 5 serving clergy rely on our help.
That’s why, as well as providing grants and services for those in need, we're working with the national Churches and others to develop longer-term solutions, so that every clergy household can thrive.
In 2024, we supported over 2,725 Anglican clergy households, with more than 6,800 grants. The demand for our services has quadrupled in the past four years, and continues to grow. We're only able to walk alongside clergy and their families with your help.
If you can make a donation through the link below, to help us continue to serve the people who spend their lives serving others, it would be greatly appreciated.