Parish Share - 2026

How is Parish Share calculated?

The Parish Share that you are asked to pay is calculated using a formula which considers whether your clergy are full time or part time and a banding according to where your parish is situated socio-economically using the 2021 census information. This takes into account our shared responsibility to support parishes in areas of deprivation.

The formula is:

Parish Share = Clergy Number x banding x standard Parish Share

Clergy Number

If you think your Clergy Number is wrong, or if you want to discuss the future staffing level in your parish, please contact your Archdeacon or Suffragan Bishop. 

How is the banding worked out?

The middle half of parishes with average ability to pay contribute 105% of this adjusted figure; ie. a small contribution towards the needs of the whole diocese. 

The parishes with above average ability to pay contribute greater amounts up to 145% of this figure; making a bigger contribution towards the needs across the whole diocese.

The least able to pay contribute smaller amounts down to a minimum of 25%. By this approach, the 25% of parishes with least ability to pay are supported by the 25% with greatest ability to pay. 

Annual incremental banding changes 

In 2025, some parishes received an increase in their Parish Share assessment. This is due to a rebanding based on the 2021 census data. In these cases, to help make the new banding affordable, it will be increased incrementally by 0.5 of a band each year until the new banding level has been reached.

Where does the money go?

The ministry and mission of The Church of England is largely funded through the incredible generosity of those who give through their own parish church. The cash donations in the offertory and the regular payments that you make through your bank account impact the financial health and the mission of your own parish church and are also closely linked to those of Chester Diocese.

Parish Share contributes towards 

• Clergy

• Clergy Housing

• Training for Clergy

• Parish Support

• Wider Mission and Outreach

 Budget 2026

 Thanks to your support, in churches across our Diocese:

• Communion is celebrated

• The Gospel is preached

• Bereaved families are comforted

• School assemblies take place

• Baptisms and weddings are ministered

• People are shown the love of Christ by our pastoral presence in every community

Communicating Parish Share

Treasurers, PCC secretaries, churchwardens, and incumbents, were notified of Parish Share assessment in December 2025.

The Parish Share request included this letter from Diocesan Secretary, Jane Pleace: Parish Share 2026 - Example Parish Letter

Parish Share Leaflet: This digital PDF leaflet explains Parish Share.

Paying your Parish Share 

Direct debit payments are collected in full on the last working day of each month unless otherwise notified.

Please note: the cut off date for any direct debit changes is the 20th of each month - please email parishshare@chester.anglican.org

If you are facing cash flow problems at any point throughout the year, please get in touch. If we know and understand, we can reschedule your payments. If you pay by Direct Debit the Finance Department will happily debit a nominal amount from your account for a few months, until the situation has eased. 

Please do not cancel the Direct Debit at your bank as it can prove difficult to reinstate cancelled arrangements. If you want to alter how much you pay, please contact the Finance Department.

Local Variation

The system allows nearby parishes and the deanery to vary the amounts paid by parishes as long as the total paid remains the same. For example, a deanery synod may decide to help one particular parish which would struggle to pay its share by asking all others to pay a supplement; two or more parishes sharing a priest may agree to change the proportion of his or her time that each of them pays for; or a parish with a large eclectic congregation may decide to help a near neighbour which is less well supported. In each case any variation must have the agreement of all PCCs affected. If such an agreement is made, simply inform the Finance Team of the new share levels for each parish affected and they will alter the direct debits as appropriate.

Thank you 

Thank you for your continued generosity. With your continued support we can achieve our shared vision. Together in Christ, sharing hope: blessing the 1.5 million people across Chester Diocese who have not heard the Good News of Jesus.

Questions

If you have questions regarding how the share is calculated, how it works, or how payments can be made please contact the Finance Department at parishshare@chester.anglican.org. 

Appeals

The Parish Share Appeals committee are independent from the Central Services Committee. The committee consists of members of Bishop’s Council and Diocesan Synod. They review appeals from parishes that believe their Parish Share has been calculated incorrectly, or is calculated using the incorrect socio-economic banding. Appeals will not be considered with respect to the general system of parish share calculations.

Appeals should be sent to : The Secretary, Parish Share Appeals Committee, at Church House, Daresbury.

Complementary Parish Share Scheme (CPSS) – Pilot 2025

The Complementary Parish Share Scheme (CPSS) is a scheme which enables 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 does apply in the same way, but the element of the parish share is redirected within the designated fund itself. Parishes are still required to contribute their full parish share, as calculated by the diocese in the usual way.