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A Brief History of the Church Commissioners from 1948

The initial focus of the Church Commissioners' work was on improving the income of clergy, aiming for national consistency of provision (1951 onwards). Other work focused on specific projects. Some achievements since 1948 are listed below.

1953: First "Green Guide" on parsonage design.	1954: The Church Commissioners take on clergy pensions and set up non-contributory clergy pensions.	From 1954, grants made for new churches in new population areas.
From 1958, £1 million provided over 25 years for improving church-aided schools.	1968: Pastoral Measure introduced, with the Church Commissioners playing a large part in its administration.	1972: The Church Commissioners are appointed first Central Stipends Authority. The Archbishops' Council now has that role.
1975: The Church Commissioners campaign to ensure no clergy are paid below recommended levels. They help dioceses with costs.	1978: Central payroll service introduced for all stipendiary clergy.	1980: Improved clergy pension package: two-thirds of stipend, lump sum on retirement, benefits for widows.
1983: Loans for clergy retirement housing. Scheme also extended to housing for curates and deserted clergy wives.	1986: A new drive to tackle unsuitable clergy housing. Over the following years, £38 million allocated to the Parsonages Renewal Fund.	1987: Clergy car loan scheme introduced.
1988: General Synod empowers the Church Commissioners to support the Church Urban Fund. £1 million a year paid from 1988 to 1991.

However, by the early 1990s it became clear that the Church Commissioners had taken on more commitments than they alone could afford, especially with the growing cost of clergy pensions. Pressure to maximize income had led to over-investment in commercial property, which went sharply into decline in the early 1990s, and to spending more than could be sustained in the long term.

The Church Commissioners were forced to cut back on grants to dioceses for the support of parish ministry, but more radical change was needed. Church-wide review resulted in the Pensions Measure 1997, which provided for parishes to pay for most clergy pension rights earned from January 1998, reflecting the principle that pensions are a key part of the cost of ministry. The Church Commissioners remain responsible for clergy pensions earned up to 1998 and have provided transitional relief to help phase in the new arrangements.

Despite the "cap" placed on the Church Commissioners' liabilities by the Pensions Measure, their pension costs will rise for the next generation before they tail off and are spent out. In meeting them it will be necessary to spend half their fund over a 50 to 60 year period.

As a result of this reshaping of the Church Commissioners' commitments, key financial reforms are in place:

Assets are invested in a more balanced way and in line with independent professional advice.
The future cost of clergy pensions is being shared with the wider Church, bringing the Church Commissioners' financial commitments to a level they can meet.
Funds (other than for pensions) are being distributed only at a level that can be afforded in the long term, based on actuarial advice.

The Turnbull Commission, set up by both Archbishops to examine the Church's central structures, reported in September 1995 and led to the establishment in 1999 of the Archbishops' Council to give strategic direction to the Church of England's mission, while providing the Church Commissioners with a clear focus upon their asset management functions.

For general enquiries please contact the Church of England switchboard on (020) 7898 1000.

For historical enquiries, please contact the Church of England Record Centre at archivist@c-of-e.org.uk.

Further details about the work of the Commissioners are available from our Policy Unit: e-mail commissioners.enquiry@c-of-e.org.uk.