The Common Fund

The Common Fund for a Common Goal

The work of the church in this diocese is financed through parishes. The vehicle used to collect the money is the Common Fund towards which every parish is asked to make a contribution. The method of assessing how much each parish is asked to pay is known as the Parish Share Scheme .

The budget for the Common Fund is prepared from submissions made by individual boards and committees. It is then reviewed by the Board of Finance and the Bishop’s Council. The Budget is then discussed and voted upon at the October meeting of the diocesan synod. It is this process of review and consultation at every stage of the budget which underlines the accountability of the St Albans DBF to the parishes being asked to meet the cost.

The Common Fund sets aside an amount each year from investment income to provide grants for parishes struggling with their parish share assessment – because it is important that, where possible, pastoral issues rather than financial ones drive change. Parishes are encouraged to pay by standing order or direct debit, and forms for these can be found on a separate page of the Finance Section.

The St Albans Diocesan Board of Finance accounts are audited each year and a copy sent to every member of the diocesan synod. The latest audited accounts can be downloaded from our website from the Board of Finance page .

2021 Common Fund Budget

Common Fund Budget 2021 Figures with notes

2021 Budget Presentation as given at Diocesan Synod

Common Fund Out-turn History