The Diocese of Ely is currently shaping its 2027 budget, continuing its commitment to support parish ministry, care for clergy, and maintain church buildings as safe and welcoming places for all.
Each year the budget is developed through a wide consultation process. This ensures that the voices of parishes, clergy, and local leaders help shape the final plan. For 2027, the diocese is continuing its zero-based budgeting approach, so every area of spending is reviewed from the ground up. This helps ensure resources are directed where they are most needed, especially as parishes face varying financial pressures and new opportunities for outreach.
The 2027 proposals will again focus on sustaining clergy numbers, supporting training and development for lay and ordained ministers, and include essential maintenance of church buildings.
As the process continues, parishes are encouraged to ask questions and share the diocese’s message of gratitude for all who give their time, prayer, and financial support. The budget is ultimately about enabling Chistian ministry and outreach in every community – including baptisms, marriages and funerals.
What’s known as the annual ‘Ministry Share’ is an amount which each area is asked to contribute towards the cost of clergy and other vital support received each year. This coming year our Ministry Share (split between our 23 parishes) will again be heavily subsidised because of numerous specific challenges we face here in The Fens. It is likely nevertheless to amount approximately to a challenging £155,000.
My prayer is that as each one of us grows in our appreciation of God’s priceless love and care, shown supremely in and through Jesus Christ, we will in turn be moved to a similar personal unstinting generosity in helping our parishes meet our full Share this coming year.
The Rev’d Dr Richard Hines
Rural Dean for Wisbech Lynn Marshland