The Church Commissioners for England published their annual report for 2025 last week. There was an accompanying press release (copied below) which concentrated on the endowment fund’s 8% return.
Church Commissioners for England endowment fund delivers 8% return in 2025
25/05/2026
The Church Commissioners for England, which manages the Church of England’s endowment fund, delivered an 8% return in 2025, marking the seventeenth consecutive year of positive returns.
The in-perpetuity endowment fund delivers long-term financial support for the Church’s mission and ministry, contributing approximately a fifth towards the total annual running costs of the Church of England. The latest result helps meet funding commitments for the 2026-2028 triennium, agreed last year.
“We know that the support provided by the Church Commissioners’ distributions is important right across the Church of England, providing key funds that support frontline parish ministry in a wide variety of ways,” said Rosie Slater-Carr, interim Chief Executive Officer. “We are committed to providing long-term funding into the future for dioceses, Cathedrals, Bishops and much needed funding for one off areas, such as Net Zero Carbon and the National Redress Scheme. Our long-term view ensures that the Church continues to inspire the many generations to come.
“Achieving an 8% return, above our long-term target, was primarily due to strong absolute performance in public markets. At the same time, we were able to successfully manage portfolio liquidity in order to fund near term distributions,” said Poppy Allonby, Chief Investment Officer. “We achieved these results whilst maintaining a focus on responsible investment and last year we were recognised for our work on both human rights data and sustainability across our real estate portfolio.”
“Our 2025 result is testament to the skill and dedication of our investment team, who not only deliver marker-beating returns, but do so while staying true to the Church of England’s values,” said Alan Smith, First Church Estates Commissioner. “It is thanks to that responsible, long-term investment approach that we can support the mission and ministry of the Church, year in year out.”
The Church Commissioners provides funding to a range of areas that support the Church of England’s mission and ministry, particularly in areas of need. In 2025, the final year of the 2023-2025 triennium, the Church Commissioners contributed £202.8m to supporting dioceses and local churches in England, and £52.9m for supporting Bishops’ and Archbishops’ ministry. The funding supported local parishes, including advancing the Net Zero Carbon programme across church buildings and schools. It formed part of a charitable expenditure of £282.4m, which also included £17.8m for cathedrals. In addition, the Church Commissioners has provided funding to the National Redress Scheme and pre-1998 clergy pensions.
The return exceeded the long-term target return of CPIH (Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers’ housing costs) +4% per annum; at the end of 2025, the fund was valued at £11.6bn.
The annual report is available for download here.
10 CommentsThe CNC’s nominated candidate for the vacant see of Bristol has withdrawn. The official Church of England announcement is copied below.
Update on Bristol Crown Nominations Commission process
27/05/2026The Crown Nominations Commission (CNC) for Bristol met in April and nominated a candidate for the See of Bristol. The individual has since decided, with regret, to withdraw from the nomination for family reasons.
The existing CNC for Bristol will reconvene as soon as possible to decide how to proceed.
The Bishop of Swindon, Bishop Neil Warwick, will continue to serve the diocese as Acting Bishop of Bristol.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, said: “I know many will be disappointed by this news and will appreciate how difficult the decision to withdraw was for the candidate.
“Please pray for them, their family and all those affected by this decision.
“I want to thank the Bishop of Swindon, Neil Warwick, for his ongoing service as Acting Bishop of Bristol, and everyone in the Diocese of Bristol who is working hard in this period of vacancy.
“Please also continue to pray for the Crown Nominations Commission as it reconvenes to seek God’s discernment for the next Bishop of Bristol.”
The Diocese of Bristol has issued this statement: Update regarding the appointment of the next Bishop of Bristol
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The Church of England’s House of Bishops met in York this week, and following the meeting issued a press release, which is copied below. The agenda of the meeting, but not the papers, is available online.
House of Bishops meeting May 2026
21/05/2026
The House of Bishops met in person from 19th to 21st May in York.
The House spent time discussing the Church of England’s Faith and Order Commission’s (FAOC) theological response to the Nairobi-Cairo Proposals.
Produced by the Inter-Anglican Standing Commission on Unity, Faith, and Order (IASCUFO), the Nairobi-Cairo Proposals make recommendations for updating the description and Instruments of the Anglican Communion.
The House commended FAOC’s response to the Nairobi-Cairo Proposals. The FAOC paper and an introductory reflection from the House of Bishops will be published in due course.
On the first proposal of the Nairobi-Cairo Proposals, regarding the description of the Anglican Communion, the House believed that FAOC’s language – which would continue to emphasise the significance of eucharistic communion – would be the basis for further reflection in this area.
On the second proposal, which considers the role of the Archbishop of Canterbury among the primates, the House supported FAOC’s judgment that an open dialogue process among the Primates that does not presume any specific outcome would be welcome.
The House received an update from the Bishops’ Working Group on ‘Promoting Unity in our Nation’. The group, chaired by Bishop Martyn Snow, has been convened to help equip the Church to understand and respond to political and social polarisation in our country. It is working on resources to support parishes wanting to respond to division pastorally, practically and theologically, as well as equipping church leaders to participate constructively in the national debate.
The Bishops agreed on the importance of this work and were keen to encourage local churches to offer spaces to listen, to be courageous in speaking truth to power and naming injustice, as well as actively seeking opportunities for community cohesion.
The House reflected on trends in Church of England attendance between and across dioceses in the light of five consecutive years of growth. The House welcomed the increased church attendance and paid tribute to the clergy, laity and volunteers across the country offering people a warm welcome and encouraging their faith.
The Bishops unanimously endorsed Hope for All Creation, produced by FAOC, as its teaching document on understanding and responding to the climate and environmental crises, drawing from the faith, life and worship of the Church. The document is expected to be published before the July Synod.
The House discussed the start of work on a review of the definition of safeguarding, to examine whether the Church’s structures and processes are established in a way that can best ensure everyone it comes into contact with is kept safe from harm.
Bishops heard an update on the evolution of the population of stipendiary and self-supporting clergy. They discussed ongoing work on clergy wellbeing and deployment as well as the significant work which is currently being undertaken to support the renewal of ministerial vocations across the church.
The House discussed ongoing research work nearing its conclusion on trust and trustworthiness in the Church of England alongside a separate item on strengthening accountability for Bishops and clergy. Bishop Debbie Sellin, the new Lead Bishop for Accountability, will be taking this work forward.
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145 CommentsFollowing the decision not to appoint an interim Bishop of Bangor, the Church in Wales has started the procedure to elect the next Bishop of Bangor. Details are in a notice published on the provincial website which is copied below. The vacancy is also advertised in the current issue of the Church Times (dated 10 April).
Vacancy in the See of Bangor
The Electoral College is reviewing expressions of interest and will meet from 16-18 June 2026 at Holy Trinity Church, Llandudno to elect the next Bishop of Bangor.
Documents relating to the vacancy are available here:
If you wish to be considered for this role, or wish to suggest a person for consideration, please contact the Secretary to the Electoral College by email at electoralcollege@churchinwales.org.uk.
The closing date for expressions of interest and suggestions is 12pm on Wednesday 29 April 2026.
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29 CommentsThe news item below was published on the website of the Diocese of Salisbury yesterday (10 April).
Rt Revd Karen Gorham announced as acting Bishop of Salisbury
The Rt Revd Karen Gorham, Bishop of Sherborne, is to be acting Bishop of Salisbury for a temporary period, it has been announced.
This follows the news that the Rt Revd Stephen Lake has voluntarily and temporarily stepped back as diocesan bishop while a financial audit of two funds is underway. He has also resigned from his role as Church Commissioner. A spokesperson from national Church, which is leading the process, confirmed that the financial audit is being undertaken following allegations of potential financial irregularities in relation to two separate funds, both of which relate to the office of the Bishop of Salisbury. These funds are separate from parish share and other funds controlled by the Diocesan Board of Finance.
Under Bishop’s Karen’s guidance and leadership, support to parishes and clergy will continue as normal. Contacts for DBF staff can be found here Diocesan Board of Finance (DBF) staff – The Diocese of Salisbury and for the bishop’s office here link Bishop’s Offices – The Diocese of Salisbury.
The previous day the Church Times published Bishop of Salisbury steps back during audit and resigns as Commissioners’ trustee; this has more information than the diocesan statement.
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24 CommentsIn April 2025 Bible Society published a report, The Quiet Revival, based on YouGov polling, which claimed that church going in Britain had increased from 8% of the population to 12% between 2018 and 2024. The report was subject to criticism, for example by the Pew Research Center.
But now Bible Society has issued a statement to say that “Earlier this month YouGov informed Bible Society that the 2024 survey sample on which our report The Quiet Revival was based was faulty, and it can no longer be regarded as a reliable source of information about the spiritual landscape in Britain.” The original report has been taken down from Bible Society’s website, although the society appear to be very reluctant to accept that there might not have been a “Quiet Revival”.
There is also this report from YouGov: Conclusions of investigation into 2024 Bible Society study.
I can recommend the following comments and press report.
Tim Wyatt The Critical Friend I told you so
Jennifer Stirrup The Bible Society and Garbage In, Gospel Out: Why Data Due Diligence Can’t Be Outsourced.
James Macintyre Church Times Bible Society says its Quiet Revival report was based on a ‘faulty’ survey
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The Prime Minister’s Office issued the press release below this morning. There are more details on the Liverpool diocesan website.
The King has approved the nomination of The Very Reverend Simon Joseph Robinson, BA, to the Suffragan See of Warrington, in the Diocese of Liverpool.
From: Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing Street
Published 27 March 2026
The King has approved the nomination of The Very Reverend Simon Joseph Robinson, BA Hons, Dean of Truro Cathedral and Rector of St. Mary’s Truro, to the Suffragan See of Warrington, in the Diocese of Liverpool, in succession to the Right Reverend Beverley Mason, BA, following her resignation.
Background
Simon was educated at Warwick University and trained for ministry on the Southern Theological Education and Training Scheme. He served his title at St. Peter’s, Freshford, St Mary’s, Limpley Stoke and St John’s, Hinton Charterhouse in the Diocese of Bath and Wells, and was ordained priest in 2013. Simon was appointed Vicar of the Parish of Minehead in 2015.
From 2022, Simon served as Interim Dean and Canon Missioner at Truro Cathedral and was appointed to his current roles of Dean of Truro Cathedral and Rector of St. Mary’s in 2024.
30 CommentsThe installation of Sarah Mullally as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury will take place in Canterbury Cathedral on Wednesday 25 March, starting at 3.00 pm. The service will be broadcast on BBC1 from 2:30pm, and live-streamed on YouTube. You can download the order of service to follow the proceedings.
Here are some previews.
The Church of England Watch the Installation of the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, at Canterbury Cathedral
Diocese of Canterbury Installation of the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury
Church Times Mullally prepares for installation in Canterbury Cathedral
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132 CommentsThe Very Revd Jonathan Greener, Dean of Exeter, has announced that he is to retire in July 2026. He has been the dean since 2017, and before that he was Dean of Wakefield from 2007 to 2017.
16 Comments