Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich

What Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich does

The Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich is the Church of England's regional episcopal body for Suffolk, England, operating as a registered charity (number 248919) and Company Limited by Guarantee (number 143034). Founded in 1914 and led by Bishop Joanne Grenfell (enthroned 24 January 2026, the first woman to hold the see) with Dean Joe Hawes overseeing St Edmundsbury Cathedral, the Diocese serves approximately 631,000 people across more than 1,400 square miles of Suffolk via 443 parishes and 480 church buildings, of which 457 are statutory listed (over 230 Grade I and 180 Grade II). It fields a workforce of roughly 150 stipendiary clergy, 72 self-supporting ministers, 185 Lay Licensed Ministers, 500+ Lay Elders, plus curates in training, supported by three Archdeaconries (Suffolk, Ipswich, Sudbury). Educational reach runs through 87 Church of England schools serving 15,000 children, including the Diocesan Multi-Academy Trust with 21 primary schools.

Core products and "services" span spiritual and pastoral delivery, community programmes, and educational resources rather than technology products. Worship, sacraments, weddings, baptisms, and funerals are delivered through the parish and Cathedral network; flagship community products include Town Pastors in 10 towns, Mothers' Union (50 Suffolk branches, 1,000+ members), Parish Nursing in Felixstowe and Bury St Edmunds, Rural Coffee Caravan, Messy Church, the modern slavery response via the Clewer Initiative, and Lightwave Community (operating under a Bishop's Mission Order). Digital infrastructure consists of standard commercial and open-source platforms — the cofesuffolk.org website, Insight portal, A Church Near You integration, YouTube livestreamed services, and social channels — with no proprietary AI/ML systems. An international companion link with the Diocese of Kagera in NW Tanzania (since 1994, formalised by MoU in 2024, extended to Lweru in 2006 and Biharamulo in 2017) supports clergy training, sustainable farming, and healthcare initiatives.

The revenue model combines regular voluntary Parish Share quotas from the 443 parishes (subscribing rather than transactional), individual donations and themed appeals (e.g., the Bishops' Lent Appeal supporting Kagera), statutory Church of England fees for life-event services, Cathedral and parish facility hire for concerts, exhibitions and pilgrimages, and grant income including a £7.137m National Lottery Heritage Fund award for the Abbey of St Edmund Reborn Project. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and the organisation explicitly does not operate a commercial pricing model. Ecclesiastical authority over life events and regional spiritual jurisdiction are conferred by its constitutional position within the Church of England, and the Diocese also holds Bronze Eco Diocese accreditation (one of the first in the country) from A Rocha UK, with Silver accreditation in progress against the Church of England's 2030 net-zero target.

Name

Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich

Legal name

St Edmundsbury and Ipswich Diocesan Board of Finance

Website

https://cofesuffolk.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1914

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich is the Church of England's regional body for Suffolk, England, serving approximately 631,000 people through 443 parishes, 480 church buildings, 87 schools, and extensive community programmes across Suffolk and a Tanzania companion link.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (81311), Educational Support Services (6117), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Denominational & Ecclesiastical Governance Bodies (Dioceses, Synods, Conferences) (BPAGAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD), Faith-Based Missions & Evangelism Organizations (Domestic & International) (BPAGAJAE), Divinity Schools (University-Affiliated) (EDAHAKAC)

Keywords

• Parish worship services
• Christian education
• Pastoral ministry
• Community programmes
• Diocesan administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Ipswich, Suffolk

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Parish Share (Quotas): Parishes contribute financially to the Diocese through a parish share system, which funds the overall mission and ministry of the Diocese including clergy stipends and housing.
2. Donations and Appeals: The Diocese raises funds through specific appeals such as the Bishops' Lent Appeal (supporting Kagera link diocese in Tanzania) and general donations.
3. Church Facility Hire and Events: Cathedral and parish churches generate revenue through venue hire, concerts, exhibitions, and pilgrimages, e.g., St Edmundsbury Cathedral hosts major concerts, art exhibitions, and pilgrimages with Pilgrims' Kitchen cafe and Cathedral Shop.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

The Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich provides Christian worship, pastoral care, life-event services (weddings, baptisms, funerals), and community programmes across Suffolk through a network of 443 parishes and 480 church buildings. It also operates 87 Church of England schools delivering Christian education to 15,000 children, St Edmundsbury Cathedral as a pilgrimage and events venue, and a portfolio of community programmes including Town Pastors, Mothers' Union, Parish Nursing, and the Lightwave Community fresh expression of church.

Product overview

The Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich operates as the Church of England in Suffolk, serving approximately 631,000 people across 443 parishes with 480 church buildings and a Cathedral. The Diocese offers a portfolio of spiritual services and community programmes rather than a unified technology product. Key offerings include the A Church Near You directory for finding local churches, the Diocesan Prayer Diary with weekly prayer resources, Safeguarding Services for protecting children and vulnerable adults, the Lightwave Community as a fresh expression of church for rural mission, the Kagera Link Diocese partnership with Tanzania, and a Modern Slavery Response Programme. Additional services include St Edmundsbury Cathedral worship and pilgrimage offerings, the Insight Portal for diocesan resources and training, and a Schools Network serving 87 Church of England schools. The Diocese is governed through Diocesan Synod and Bishop's Council structures, with three Archdeaconries overseeing pastoral care across Suffolk.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lightwave Community: A dispersed church community within the Diocese, made up of small disciple-making groups and fresh expressions of church focused on innovative mission in rural Suffolk.

Products and services

• St Edmundsbury Cathedral Services The Mother Church of the Diocese in Bury St Edmunds offering daily worship services, pilgrimages, concerts, exhibitions, educational programmes, and the Pilgrims' Kitchen cafe and Cathedral Shop. Livestreamed services include Morning Prayer (8.30am weekdays), Choral Evensong (5.30pm weekdays), and Sunday Choral Evensong (3.30pm).
• Diocesan Schools Network Oversight and resourcing of 87 Church of England schools across Suffolk providing Christian education to 15,000 children. Services include SIAMS inspection support, RE and Collective Worship resources, Foundation Governor training, and the Diocesan Multi-Academy Trust with 21 primary schools.
• Lightwave Community A dispersed church community within the Diocese, governed by Bishop's Mission Order, comprising small disciple-making groups and fresh expressions of church focused on innovative mission in rural Suffolk, addressing isolation, poverty, youth work, and environmental care.
• Safeguarding Services Comprehensive safeguarding support including reporting concerns, training, policies, templates, safer recruitment practices, and collaboration with the Suffolk Safeguarding Partnership and Police Public Protection. Dedicated Diocesan Safeguarding Officer with team.
• Modern Slavery Response Programme

Quantifiable outcome

• 631,000 people served across Suffolk through 443 parishes
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Diocese of Kagera (Tanzania)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1994Companion link established in 1994 with Diocese of Kagera in NW Tanzania. Extended to include Lweru (2006) and Biharamulo (2017) dioceses. MoU formally signed in 2024. Partnership covers sustainable farming training, clergy and evangelist training at Kagera Christian Theological College (KCTC), healthcare support at Diocesan hospital, and motorbikes for priests. Bishop Joanne describes it as 'a gift of friendship'.
• A Rocha UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChristian environmental charity running the Eco Church scheme. Diocese was one of the first in the country to receive Bronze Eco Diocese accreditation. Partnership supports environmental mission across all parishes.
• The Children's SocietyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNational charity working with vulnerable children and young people. Many Diocese churches hold Christingle services in December to raise funds for the Children's Society.
• Christians Against Poverty (CAP)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerNational Christian charity specializing in debt counselling and Job Clubs. CAP centre in Suffolk at St John The Baptist CE Church, Saxmundham.
• Christian AidminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInternational development charity working in 37 countries. Diocese supports Christian Aid campaigns and fundraising, e.g., following Nepal disaster in August.
• Ipswich Winter Night Shelter (Selig Trust)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides overnight shelter December to March for the homeless in Ipswich, hosted by several different churches. Part of the Selig (Suffolk) Trust project. Helps guests access advice and long-term accommodation.
• Mothers' UnionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInternational Christian charity with 50 very active Suffolk branches and over 1000 members in the Diocese. Membership open to men and women who have been baptised. Supports family and marriage ministry.
• Parish NursingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChristian charity supporting whole person healthcare (body, mind and spirit). Parish Nurses currently available in Felixstowe and Bury St Edmunds.
• Rural Coffee CaravanminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLaunched by Revd Canon Sally Fogden in 2003 to tackle rural isolation. Delivers information and friendship across Suffolk, befriending rurally isolated people and connecting them to services.
• Town PastorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVolunteers from local churches patrolling 10 Suffolk towns on Friday/Saturday nights providing support to vulnerable people. Includes Latitude Festival Pastors. Supported by Town Pastors national organisation.
• Talitha KoumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIpswich-based charity reaching out with love and practical support to vulnerable women. Provides supported housing on a 2-acre rural site (The Hope Centre) for women recovering from addictions. Founded on Christian principles.
• Veterans GatewayminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOnline collaboration of services helping members of the Veterans or Ex-Forces community find the right support. Diocese references during Remembrance period.
• Messy ChurchminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFresh expression of church offering families fun and informal activities exploring Christianity with hospitality (tea, food). Registered on the national Messy Church website.
• USPG - United Society Partners in the GospelminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnglican mission agency partnering churches and communities worldwide. Dean Joe Hawes is a trustee of USPG.
• The Clewer InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational work of the Church of England to combat modern slavery. Diocese has a dedicated working group chaired by Revd Carol Mansell linked to Eastern Region Anti-Slavery Partnership. Supports Farm Work Welfare App and Safe Car Wash App.
• Suffolk Safeguarding PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-agency safeguarding partnership including Suffolk County Council and Police Public Protection. Diocese works collaboratively on safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults.
• Suffolk Guild of RingersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCounty-wide organization linking bellringers since 1923. Can introduce people to the hobby of change ringing.
• Meet up MondaysminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGives hospitality businesses opportunity to provide warm welcome venues for people of all ages. Helps isolated individuals make connections in community over tea, coffee and toast.
• Suffolk NetworkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConnecting Christian communities in Suffolk with news, events, training and job opportunities.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Diocese of Canterbury: Mother diocese of the Church of England and seat of the Archbishop. Provides the national policy and liturgical framework within which St Edmundsbury & Ipswich operates, and the closest 'incumbent' peer in terms of historic governance authority.
• Church of England: National parent institution of which the Diocese is a constituent body. Sets safeguarding, education, and liturgical standards, and is the central funding/coordination counterpart for all 42 CofE dioceses.
• Diocese of London: Larger CofE diocese covering Greater London. Previous employer of Bishop Joanne as Bishop of Stepney, providing direct leadership pipeline connection. Operates similar governance and safeguarding structures at larger scale.

Direct peers

• Diocese of Chelmsford: CofE diocese covering Essex (including one Essex parish already administered by St Edmundsbury & Ipswich). Comparable governance structure, schools portfolio, and mix of urban and rural parishes in the same region.
• Diocese of Oxford: CofE diocese covering Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. Comparable Diocesan Board of Education model, Multi-Academy Trust structure, and theological training partnerships through the University of Oxford.
• Diocese of St Albans: CofE diocese covering Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire with comparable parish count, schools portfolio, and Diocesan Board of Finance governance model. Direct operational analogue at similar scale.
• Diocese of Peterborough: Neighbouring CofE diocese covering Northamptonshire, Rutland and part of Lincolnshire. Comparable size, parish structure, and mix of rural communities with heritage church buildings.
• Diocese of Norwich: Neighbouring Church of England diocese covering Norfolk with a comparable mix of rural parishes, listed church buildings, and a similar-sized population. Most directly comparable peer given geographic adjacency and shared East Anglian regional context.
• Diocese of Ely: Adjacent East Anglian CofE diocese covering Cambridgeshire. Similar scale of parish network, cathedral-based governance model, and educational footprint through Church of England schools.
• Diocese of Winchester: Historic CofE diocese covering Hampshire with a comparable cathedral-led model, education portfolio, and significant heritage building stock. Strong governance and structure parallels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/cofesuffolk
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCW9Est02TVM-Tc290VgnEfA
• Facebookfacebook.com/CofEsuffolk
• Instagraminstagram.com/accounts/login/?next=/cofesuffolk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/diocese-of-st-edmundsbury-&-ipswich

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich