Diocese of Truro provides latest clergy count figures

 Pressed by Save The Parish Cornwall for clarification on clergy numbers, the acting Bishop of Truro the Rt Rev Hugh Nelson has send the following response. STPC presented a plan to fund 100 clergy from existing Diocesan finances to him, and colleagues, at a meeting on 30 September 2024.

At that meeting STPC asked for clarification on current full time stipendiary priests in Cornwall: neither Bishop Hugh, nor Diocesan Secretary Simon Cade were prepared to provide them at that meeting. This response, received on 22 October 2024, similarly does not clarify the exact number of clergy planned for 2025. Bishop Hugh also includes Archdeacons and curates in the 'clergy count'.

Bishop Hugh writes:

As we described when we met, the measure that we use to count clergy is headcount stipends paid. That gives us a consistent and clear number that we can count and compare every month. As they do not receive a stipend, this does not include House for Duty clergy. 

 At the end of September, we paid 62 stipends. 

 Our target number of stipends comes from the total clergy posts described in the deanery plans. Including Archdeacons and Curates, that gives a figure of 74 clergy (and this year, the balance between curates and incumbent status clergy has shifted in favour of the latter as the number of curates has dropped). Add in House for Duty clergy and the number grows to between 80 to 85, depending on exactly how these posts are described and recruited. 

 We are now one of the few dioceses that are committed to maintaining and, if possible, increasing the number of stipendiary clergy. The majority of dioceses are cutting posts, and/or choosing to hold high vacancy rates for financial reasons.

 As you know, recruiting to parish posts remains our top operational priority, and we have 5 more interviews for parish clergy posts before the end of the year. We have never, and will never, extend a clergy vacancy for financial reasons.

 We are committed to investing in our clergy, including in their spirituality, training and wellbeing. In particular we are keeping stipends as high as we can, providing professional pastoral supervision, running high quality training and offering external and confidential counselling.