Ecclesiastical governance – why it matters, and why the proper support helps

Church for me growing up was a place of stability and sanctuary. I understood its values and it gave me a framework to live my life by. As I got older, its meaning changed—I came to appreciate the sense of community that supports you during big life events.

And I know I’m not alone. The Church of England continues to be a vital part of many people’s lives. In 2024, the number of regular worshippers grew to 1.02 million . Visits to AChurchNearYou.com rose by 55% to almost 200 million as people looked to connect with their local congregation. That’s a huge number of people engaging with the Church—and behind the scenes, it has a substantial amount of influence. The Church Commissioners manage a fund worth £11.1bn and an extensive, diverse property portfolio.

With that kind of reach and responsibility, the need for good governance couldn’t be clearer. In light of painful and shameful failures in the Church’s past, there’s a duty on all of us to scrutinise how decisions are made and how the institution is held to account—not just those with faith, but anyone who cares about fairness, transparency and public trust.

That’s where ecclesiastical governance comes in. We need to move away from viewing it as a box ticking exercise and see it as part of the work to rebuild trust.

National bodies replaced by charity

On 12 July 2025, the General Synod gave final approval to the National Church Governance Measure. It’s a big step: two national bodies, the Archbishops’ Council and Church of England Central Services, are being replaced by a new charity called Church of England National Services (CENS). This came from a major review that called for real structural change—to modernise governance and deliver transparency.

It follows other recent changes, like Cathedrals now needing to register as charities with the Charity Commission. Most Dioceses also have a charitable body in their structure, which brings them under the same governance expectations—codes like the UK Charity Governance Code, regular board performance reviews, and more focus on good governance overall.

A guiding hand for ecclesiastical governance

At Round Governance, this is a world we’re familiar with. We carry out Board Performance Reviews for Dioceses and support governance development across the Church. With team members who have worked at Cathedrals and served as Diocesan Board Trustees, we understand the landscape from the inside, and we care deeply about helping it thrive.

It’s governance but not as you know it

Ecclesiastical governance really does have all the intricacies:

·         Complicated governance structures—statutory bodies, charitable entities, companies limited by guarantee, even CICs and trusts;

·         Governing documents that range from statute and standing orders to articles of association—each shaping board composition and decision making;

·         Complicated reporting requirements;

·         Committee structures galore;

·         Highly engaged and often vocal stakeholder groups—clergy, staff, worshippers, volunteers, residents; and,

·         The constant challenge of holding together worship and pastoral care alongside financial, commercial, and social responsibilities

Nothing is simple or ordinary, but it’s all fascinating. The principles of good governance stay the same; it’s about finding how they fit in this very particular and very significant space.

And that’s where we can help.

Contact us  if you’d like to talk more about our work with ecclesiastical governance