Parish returns

Home > For parishes > Parish administration > Parish returns

Image by Tumisu from Pixabay

We need to collect:

Statistics for Mission submitted via the Online Parish Returns Portal see below
Parish Finance Return submitted via Online Parish Returns Portal see below
Energy Footprint tool submitted via the Online Parish Returns Portal see below
Archdeacons’ Articles of Enquiry
Annual Report and Accounts
Electoral Roll Certificate (in accordance with Church Representation Rules)
Church Development Tool

Online Parish Returns system:

If you require login details or any other assistance regarding the online portal please contact Alison Barker by email.

The Articles of Enquiry, copies of annual accounts, number on your Parish electoral roll and the Finance return need to be submitted by 31 May 2022. This ties in with the deadline of when all parishes should have held their APCMs by.

Summary timeline

Below is a timeline setting out when the various statistical parish returns are expected throughout the year. We hope this helps your planning.

When?	What?
Start of January	Statistics for Mission request sent
31 January	Stats for Mission deadline. Final deadline for previous year's parish share payments
Early February	Energy Footprint Tool opens
3rd week of February	Reminder to complete statistics for mission
Last week of February	Articles of Enquiry sent
1st week of March	Request Electoral Roll figures (these should be received after the APCM) Liaise with those who have not returned Statistics for Mission
Last week of April	Reminder to complete: Return of Parish Finance form / Energy Footprint Tool / provide Annual Report and Accounts / Electoral Roll Certificate / Articles of Enquiry
May (subject to change)	Church Development Tool opens
31 May	Deadline for Annual Report and Accounts Deadline for Articles of Enquiry
From 1st week of June	Liaise with those who have not submitted returns
18 June	Deadline for return of parish finance forms
1 July	Deadline for Electoral Roll
August	Undertake CMS places audit
September (TBC)	Deadline for Energy Footprint
Dec	Deadline for Church Development Tool

Statistics for Mission

Statistics for Mission 2021 Form | DOCX

User Guide | PDF

Frequently Asked Questions | PDF

Padlet resource pack | weblink

Thank you to all parishes who have already submitted their Stats for Mission forms in this year. Please be aware, the national church have extended the deadline for the Stats for Mission forms to be submitted. The new deadline is Sunday 20^th March. Please ensure you submit the forms or via the online portal or to the office by this date at the latest. We have been told this is the absolute deadline and it will not be extended further.

If you are unable to input data using the online portal and would like assistance please contact Alison Barker by email.

Parish Finance Return

Parish Finance Form | PDF

The deadline for returning the Parish Finance form is 31 May 2022.

Accounts & Annual Reports

Producing PCC Annual Reports: Church of England guidance on the writing of the formal Annual Report | Weblink

Copies of Parish Account and Annual Reports should be provided directly to the diocese, preferably by email, or alternatively by post.

An example of a completed Annual Reports is available from Parish Resources here.

The deadline for returning the Annual Report and Accounts form is 31 May 2022.

Energy Footprint Tool

The Church of England’s General Synod has set new targets for all parts of the church to work to become carbon ‘net zero’ by 2030.

The easy-to-use Energy Footprint Tool will tell your church of what your "carbon footprint" is, based on the energy you use to heat and light your buildings. This tool is now live and is available to all Church of England churches using:

Online Parish Returns System | Weblink

See video below on how to use the toolkit:

For further information please visit:

Environment | Weblink

Dashboards | Parish Spotlights

The Church of England Research and Statistics team publish the results of this data collection in the form of dashboards and spotlights available here:

Parish data | weblink