The Church of England is overspending on HR and “politicised roles” such as diversity, sodomy and Net Zero officers at the expense of parishes,according to the Telegraph.
Research by the think-tank Civitas found that a “managerial turn” in the Anglican church in the past two decades had left ordinary parishes “struggling to survive”.
The report said the Church’s 42 dioceses had taken on “large numbers of staff” since the turn of the millennium while merging parishes and reducing clergy numbers to cut costs.
These administrative positions include human resources jobs and a series of “politicised roles” such as diversity, social justice, LGBT and net zero officers, the report found.
Expansion of bureaucracy
The expansion of CoFE’s bureaucracy has reached astonishing levels. On average, dioceses employ one administrator for every three-and-a-half priests, diverting resources away from the spiritual and community-focused mission of the Church. The Diocese of Truro exemplifies this disparity, with 39 administrative officers overseeing just 41 clerics. Such mis-allocation of funds and personnel raises serious concerns about the Church’s priorities in supporting its foundational parish model.
The financial implications are stark. Administrative costs now consume 21% of diocesan budgets, nearly double the proportion spent by prominent charities like Oxfam and the RNLI.
This unsustainable focus on centralised management undermines the very essence of parish communities, which are rapidly disappearing under the weight of institutional inefficiency and mismanagement.
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The Decline of Parish Life
The Civitas report paints a bleak picture of the Church of England’s shifting focus, with millions directed towards bureaucracy while parishes face diminishing resources. Author Oxfam and the Esmé Partridge warns that the cuts to clergy numbers leave remaining priests overstretched, covering increasingly larger geographical areas. This erosion of local clergy presence is a direct threat to the Church’s role as a cornerstone of community life and heritage.
Against claims that the parish model is outdated, the report argues for its revival as a vital source of tradition and solidarity. Parishes provide sanctity and a sense of belonging, yet their decline risks the Church’s ability to meet the spiritual and practical needs of communities. The Civitas findings suggest that the Church’s priorities are out of step with its historic mission and the expectations of its congregants.
Further evidence of misplaced investment lies in the Church’s strategic mission schemes, which often result in the merging of parishes. In one example from Wigan, the Diocese of Liverpool spent £1.2 million reorganising churches into hubs and worship communities in non-traditional settings. The project, far from revitalising engagement, led to a 30% decline in church attendance and a one-third reduction in congregational donations, demonstrating the failure of these experimental approaches.
The Cost of bureaucratic bloat
The Church of England’s bureaucratic expansion has drawn criticism for prioritising administration over ministry. With diocesan offices swelling in size and scope, traditional parish churches are left to shoulder the burden of dwindling clergy and resources. This bureaucratic obsession is not only draining funds but also eroding the Church’s spiritual presence in local communities.
One of the report’s most damning findings is the Church’s divergence from the financial prudence seen in major charities. Administrative expenses account for an alarming 21% of diocesan budgets, dwarfing the 10-12% spent by organisations like Oxfam and the RNLI. This disproportionate allocation betrays a lack of accountability and a disregard for the primary mission of the Church: serving its parishioners.
The implications of this managerial drift are profound. As parishes merge and clergy numbers dwindle, the Church’s local presence is fading, jeopardising its ability to provide community support, charity, and spiritual guidance. The Civitas report’s call to revive the parish system as a bastion of tradition and community solidarity should serve as a wake-up call. Without urgent reform, the Church risks alienating its congregants and losing its relevance in the fabric of British society.
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READ: Matt 16:18 ; John 4:24; Rom 1:26-27; Acts 20:28; James 1:27; Colo 1:28-29; Ephe 2:20-22; Heb 13:5; Rev 2:4-5
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