This page contains guidance for Area Deans, Deanery Lay Chairs and Deanery Treasurers to help them complete a Deanery Parish Share Return Form for 2025.
- Forms have been sent to Area Deans, Deanery Lay Chairs and Deanery Treasurers by email from parishshare@chelmsford.anglican.org
- For further help completing your form please email Chris Copus or call him on 01245 294494.
A five step approach to completing your Deanery Parish Share Return Form
Click on the boxes below to see the instructions for each step.
Steps 1 and 2 which relate to Share Paying Units (SPU) and Multi Parish Benefices (MPB) may not be relevant to your deanery.
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Step 1 - Adjust SPU splits (if relevant)
If your Deanery has one or more Share Paying Units (SPUs) these are shown in column B on the form. The total share for the SPU is show in column C. The split of share for each BENEFICE in the SPU can be changed to any other split agreed by the benefices. The form suggests a split based on where clergy are licensed, but this might not reflect the ministry patterns or the preferred share contributions of the benefices.
How?
Either – adjust the percentages in the yellow highlighted cells in column D (they should add to 100%)
Or – enter the £ amounts in the orange highlighted cells in column E (they should add to the total share amount in column C)
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Step 2 - Adjust Multi Parish Benefice splits (if relevant)
All benefices within the Deanery are listed in column F, and their benefice share is shown in column G. Parishes are listed in column H. If a benefice contains multiple parishes, the split of share for each PARISH in the benefice can be changed to any other split agreed by the parishes. PCC Treasurers in Multi Parish Benefices will be familiar with this process from previous years. The form suggests a split based on the 2024 share amounts.
How?
Either – adjust the percentages in the yellow highlighted cells in column I (for each benefice they should add to 100%)
Or – enter the £ amounts in the orange highlighted cells in column J (for each benefice they should add to the total share amount in column G)
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Step 3 - Ensure that suggested parish share adds up
The suggested parish share amounts are now shown in column K. The total Deanery Share is shown in the top row. If this is coloured green the Deanery Share is fully allocated to parishes. If it is red please check the last two steps – one of the splits doesn’t add up.
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Step 4 - Enter details of mutual support within your deanery
Parishes in the Deanery can decide together if they want to change the Suggested Parish Share contributions, provided the total Deanery Share amount is still met.
Where a parish wishes to offer MORE than the Suggested Parish Share amount in column K, the additional amount can be entered in column L. This will increase the Agreed Share shown in column O. The parish PCC will need to agree the higher offer and confirm that in writing to yourself.
Where a parish will receive support and contribute LESS than the Suggested Parish Share amount in column K, the amount of reduction can be entered in column M. This will decrease the Agreed Share shown in column O.
Any parish within a Deanery can choose to simply contribute the Suggested Parish Share shown in column K. Columns L and M should be left blank, and the Agreed Share shown in column O will be the same as the Suggested Parish Share
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Step 5 - Check and send
The Agreed Share amounts for each parish are shown in column O. Please review these to make sure they are correct. Once you are content, please save the completed form and email it to parishshare@chelmsford.anglican.org
You might like to use column P to record whether you have received written confirmation from the PCC of any parish offering to pay more than their Suggested Parish Share – these will have an amount in column L on the relevant row. These confirmations do not need to be sent with the form, but will be requested if a parish later contests the Agreed Share amount.
As a reminder, the sum of the amounts each parish in your Deanery contributes must add up to the total Deanery Assessment. This means column L and column M should have the same total – if so, they will be coloured green. If not, they will be coloured red – please check and correct.The Deanery share figure should be fully allocated to parishes, but where a Parish forecasts a lower figure will be paid, please record it in column Q to help with budgeting.
Making an offer based approach add up
If your Deanery has taken the approach of asking parishes to offer amounts they will contribute, the offers might not add up to the Deanery Assessment amount. A suggestion on how to resolve this problem is given here. The Suggested Parish Share amounts will be used as a default allocation of the Deanery Assessment total if parishes within the Deanery do not agree a different allocation.
How to tell us about anticipated shortfall
In situations where a shortfall cannot be fully addressed by deanery mutual support, it would be helpful if you could give us a forecast estimate of the amount the parish is hoping to pay. Please record this in column Q. this will help the Diocese to forecast reciepts for the coming year.
What happens next?
Once we have received the completed form, the Diocesan Office will contact all parishes in the Deanery to confirm the Agreed Share amounts, and whether this has been adjusted from the Suggested Parish Share. The office team will work with parishes directly to set up payment arrangements.
For further help completing your form please email Chris Copus or call him on 01245 294494.
Parish Share view
