Church Commissioners for England is the Church of England’s statutory endowment steward, funding dioceses, cathedrals, bishops and mission work through responsible long-term investment.
To sustain the Church of England’s mission and ministry over the long term by managing its historic endowment responsibly and distributing funding, practical support and governance processes across the national Church.
The Church Commissioners for England was established in 1948 under the Church Commissioners Measure 1947. Official Church of England materials state that the body was formed from the merger of Queen Anne’s Bounty, founded in 1704 to support poorer clergy, and the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, established in 1836. Its role is to administer the Church of England’s permanent endowment and provide long-term financial support for the Church’s mission, ministry and institutional responsibilities.
The Church Commissioners operates as a long-term endowment steward and grantmaking funder within the Church of England rather than as a general public grantmaker. It manages the Church’s historic endowment ethically and responsibly, then makes funding available for mission and ministry through Church structures, particularly the Archbishops’ Council, dioceses, cathedrals, bishops and national programmes. Funding is planned in triennia, informed by investment performance, actuarial advice and Church priorities. Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment uses streams such as the Diocesan Investment Programme, Lowest Income Communities Funding and People and Partnerships Funding. Public eligibility for non-Church applicants is not stated in the allowed sources.
The Church Commissioners is one of the central funding bodies of the Church of England. Its endowment has produced long-term financial support for dioceses, parishes, bishops, cathedrals and national Church responsibilities. Official figures report a £11.6B investment fund at the end of 2025, an 8% 2025 return, and £282.4M charitable expenditure in 2025. The Commissioners also committed £1.2B for the 2023–2025 triennium and approved up to £1.638B for 2026–2028 distributions, subject to governance conditions.
The Church Commissioners works closely with the Archbishops’ Council, General Synod, dioceses, cathedrals, the House of Bishops, the Church of England Pensions Board and other National Church Institutions. Its governance links include accountability to Parliament, the Charity Commission and Church of England structures. It also works through the Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board and receives actuarial advice for distribution planning.
The Church Commissioners is a registered charity and one of seven National Church Institutions. Governance includes 33 Church Commissioners: 27 members form the Board of Governors with trustee responsibility, while six hold Offices of State. The Board is supported by committees covering assets, audit and risk, bishoprics and cathedrals, and mission, pastoral and church property. The First Church Estates Commissioner chairs the Assets Committee, which oversees strategic management of the investment portfolio. The Commissioners states that its investment activity is guided by ethical investment policies, responsible investment priorities, intergenerational equity and long-term sustainability. It has remained a UK Stewardship Code signatory and has reported work on net zero carbon, nature and human rights.