Support is being made available to parishes and clergy to help with rising living and energy costs
The cost of energy is among the many financial pressures churches are under in these current times of high inflation and economic uncertainty.
The Diocese is responding by offering grants from a new Energy Costs Support Fund.
The money for the fund has been drawn together from a number of places:
- The national church (£249,000) - see the Church of England's original announcement
- The repurposing of our previous Covid Support Grants fund
- Some designated and restricted funds
- Releasing some of the historic gains we have made on investing through our Total Return approach.
A church doesn't need to take up its grant if they do not wish to. If sufficient funds remain once the grants have been allocated, further grants will be offered to those in need.
To help get resources to where they are needed quickly, parishes have been asked to respond, via a simple form, by 30 November 2022.
Information about the new grant was shared with Incumbents, Treasurers and PCC Secretaries in October. If you are not aware of having received information about the Energy Costs Support Fund please email: finance@rochester.anglican.org
Support for clergy too
The Diocesan leadership is also acutely aware of the pressure the cost of living is having on clergy households. To help, a Hardship Grant of £340 has been made available for all stipendiary clergy and those for whom the Diocese provides housing.
This grant, along with another hardship payment offered earlier in the year, brings the total amount of hardship funding offered in 2022 to £640.
The additional support has been made possible thanks to a grant drawn down from the Church Commissioners.
In a letter explaining how clergy can access the grant, Bishop Jonathan Gibbs and Diocesan Secretary, Matthew Girt, acknowledged the anxiety and stress financial worry may bring and highlighted a range of support on offer.
Other useful information
Responding to the Cost of living Crisis in your community - A page compiled by the Diocesan Community Engagement and Social Action Team exploring some of the ways churches might want to respond to the cost of living crisis in their community, and the resources available.
Addressing your own church's energy cost concerns - A section on our Cost of Living page, highlighting national advice and tips on how churches can reduce their own energy usage and costs.