The Church of England is facing a significant decline in attendance and financial stability, according to a recent report by former church officials, who warn that without decisive action, the institution could be heading toward financial disaster. The document, authored by John Craven, a former member of the Archbishops’ Council, and Canon Robin Gill, who advised two archbishops of Canterbury, highlights a growing disparity between administrative costs and support for parish clergy amid falling churchgoer numbers.

The report describes the Church as trapped in a “serious cycle of decline,” with funds increasingly absorbed by administration rather than pastoral ministry. The authors point out that as clergy numbers dwindle across both urban and rural areas, church services are less frequent, and smaller congregations struggle to generate sufficient donations. This situation, they argue, undermines both the Church's financial base and its ability to maintain active parish ministries.

Tracing church attendance trends, the report notes that English churchgoing peaked in the Victorian era. In contrast, today the Church of England has more than four times as many bishops as it did then, yet serves fewer than a quarter of the number of worshippers. It further criticizes the current structure, which has expanded from 26 dioceses in the 17th century to 42 today, arguing this proliferation leads to administrative duplication and inefficiency. The report reveals that dioceses spend an average of £500,000 annually on bishops’ ministries alone.

To address these challenges, the report recommends reviewing and reducing the number of bishops, archdeacons, and diocesan administrators. It also calls for merging dioceses to streamline costs and restructuring financial decision-making by devolving powers to around 600 local deaneries, thereby aligning spending more closely with local priorities. Enhancing the morale of parish priests and retired clergy is stressed as a necessary step to strengthen parish ministry.

The authors acknowledge that dioceses are currently “too big to reflect local concerns,” emphasizing the need for decisions to be made as close as possible to the communities they affect. They urge the Church to adopt a more “ruthless” approach to reallocating resources, as has been done previously in response to societal changes.

The Church of England described the report as a “welcome contribution” to ongoing discussions about its future. It also underscored the importance of safeguarding staff, who have been counted within the growth of administrative roles and are considered essential for protecting vulnerable individuals.

While the report paints a challenging picture, it highlights a critical moment for the Church as it balances tradition with the need for organizational reform in response to changing patterns of worship and financial pressures.