Parish Share Assessment 2025
A thank you letter from Ian Scott Dunn, retiring Chair of the Chester Diocesan Board of Finance is being sent out to PCC Secretaries for the attention of treasurers and incumbents with details of the 2025 budget. It should arrive by post in the next 7-14 days and includes your annual assessment, some useful literature for sharing with your PCC and a thank you message to display on church noticeboards.
Video message about Parish Share 2025
Complementary Parish Share Scheme (CPSS)
A proposal for a Complementary Parish Share Scheme (CPSS) was presented to Diocesan Synod following approval at Bishop’s Council in October.
What is the CPSS pilot scheme?
This is a 12 month pilot which will enable individuals and churches across Chester Diocese to move forward together in unity around issues of Living in Love and Faith, maintaining trusting relationships and giving generously towards our shared gospel mission. In Chester Diocese generally, some parish share goes to cover the costs of subsidising ministry in other parishes across the diocese. Within the designated fund, this will not apply in the same way. Rather, that element of the parish share will be redirected within the designated fund itself. Parishes will still be required to contribute their full parish share, as calculated by the diocese in the usual way.
How to opt into the CPSS pilot scheme
To opt into the scheme your PCC will need to pass the following motion:
“The PCC of [parish name] resolves to pay our Parish Share, as calculated by Chester Diocesan Board of Finance, through the Complementary Parish Share Scheme (CPSS).
Further, we commit to the principle of generosity captured by the CPSS, that any deficit in the total amount of Parish Share collected will be covered collectively by the members of the CPSS. “
A PCC may wish to divide their payment of parish share on a proportional basis between the main and complementary routes. In that case, please amend the resolution to read,
“The PCC of [parish name] resolves to pay X% of our Parish Share …”. The commitment to contribute to any deficit among members of the CPSS would also be adjusted according to the same proportion.”
In addition, PCC’s may want to adopt an explanatory statements at the same time as passing the resolution. For example:
“We are taking this step following the decision of the Church of England to allow Prayers of Love and Faith to bless same-sex unions, defined in the pastoral introduction to the prayers as those who have “sealed a covenanted friendship, registered a civil partnership, or entered into a civil marriage”.
Communicating your decision to the central finance team at Church House
You will need to communicate that you have opted into the scheme by emailing ds@chester.anglican.org.
If you have any questions about the scheme itself please talk to your Archdeacon.