The Church Commissioners

The Church Commissioners were formed in 1948 by joining together two bodies - Queen Anne's Bounty and the Ecclesiastical Commissioners.

The Church Commissioners are based at Church House, Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3AZ. They moved there in March 2007 to work under one roof with the Archbishops' Council and the Church of England Pensions Board.

The Commissioners' role is to manage the Church's historic assets, today invested in stock market shares and property, to produce money to support the Church's ministry. The Church Commissioners meet some 18% of the Church's total running costs.

The Church Commissioners' main responsibilities are:

• to obtain the best possible long term return from a diversified investment portfolio in order (1) to meet their pension commitments and (2) to provide the maximum sustainable funding for their other purposes such as support for the work of bishops, cathedrals and parish ministry;
• in doing so, to pay particular regard to making 'additional provision for the cure of souls in parishes where such assistance is most required';
• to administer the legal framework for pastoral reorganisation and settle the future of redundant churches.

The Church Commissioners are accountable to the General Synod and to Parliament. Annual reports are submitted to both, and the Church Commissioners answer questions about their work. The Commissioners' work is governed by the Church Commissioners Measure 1947 (as amended).

Who are the Church Commissioners?

The 33 Church Commissioners are:

• the two archbishops;
• three Church Estates Commissioners, who represent the Church Commissioners in General Synod and (Second Commissioner) in Parliament;
• eleven people elected from General Synod: four bishops, three clergy, four lay people;
• two deans or provosts;
• nine people who are appointed by the Crown and the archbishops;
• six ex officio members: the Prime Minister, the Lord Chancellor, the Lord President of the Council, the Home Secretary, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, and the Speaker of the House of Commons.

Click here for a current list of Church Commissioners.

How do the Church Commissioners work?

Overall policy is directed by the Board of Governors. All Church Commissioners except the six State office holders are members. It is supported by various committees and by an administrative staff of about 100. The committees and their responsibilities are set out below. For further details of their work follow the links:

• the Assets Committee directs asset management and investment policy, assisted by stock exchange and property sub-groups;
• the Bishoprics and Cathedrals Committee is responsible for bishops' staffing and working costs, diocesan bishops' housing and grants towards cathedrals' lay staff costs;
• the Pastoral Committee is responsible for pastoral reorganization, parsonages and glebe property;
• the Church Buildings (Uses and Disposals) Committee is responsible for deciding the future of closed churches;
• the Audit Committee oversees the audit of the annual accounts, internal financial control and links with external auditors;
• the Management Advisory Committee advises the Board on appointments and staff issues;
• the Church Commissioners also run the national clergy pay roll.

Administrative support is provided through the Archbishops' Council, such as legal and office services and IT.

For general enquiries please write to the Church Commissioners at Church House, Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3AZ or contact the Church of England switchboard on (020) 7898 1000.

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

© The Church Commissioners for England, 2001-2002