Diocese of Manchester - Church of England

What Diocese of Manchester - Church of England does

The Diocese of Manchester is a registered charity (Charity number 249424, Company number 149999) and one of the larger dioceses of the Church of England, founded in 1847 when Manchester Cathedral was granted cathedral status. It operates under the Church of England's Northern Province and provides spiritual, pastoral, educational, and administrative oversight to 256 parishes, 175 benefices, 193 Church of England schools, and over 300 places of worship across 416 square miles in Greater Manchester and Rossendale, serving a population of 2.2 million people — the fourth most densely populated diocese in England. The diocese is structured into four archdeaconries (Bolton, Manchester, Rochdale, Salford), seven deaneries, and 33 mission communities, and is supported by two wholly-owned operating bodies: the Manchester Diocesan Board of Finance (DBF) and the Manchester Diocesan Board of Education (DBE).

The diocese's core products and services comprise parish support (Parish Share system, safeguarding, governance, buildings, grants), clergy support (housing, stipends, ministerial development, wellbeing), education support (RE, ethos, governance, admissions for 58,000+ pupils across 193 schools), and strategic programmes spanning Parish Renewal, Growing Younger, Church Planting & Revitalisation (Resource Churches, Antioch Network), Developing Missional Leaders, Net Zero Carbon by 2030, Racial Justice, and Disability Friendly. Its technology platform is modest: an AWS-hosted website, AWS S3 for media storage, an in-house Parish Returns data collection tool, an Online Directory, and a Find a Church locator. The central office at St John's House in Bury houses 65 staff across ten departments.

Revenue is generated through five primary streams: Parish Share contributions from the 256 parishes (subscription/recurring), donations and fundraising via the Wonderful and Give a Little platforms (donations), Local Authority funding for 193 church schools (professional services), grants from the national Church of England through the Diocesan Investment Programme and SMMIB (licensing/royalties), and parochial fees (transaction fees). GTM is community-led — growth is driven through parish networks, mission communities, church schools, and clergy/lay leader engagement rather than commercial sales motions. The diocese is led by the Bishop of Manchester (The Right Reverend Dr David Walker), with suffragan bishops of Middleton and Bolton, three archdeacons, and the Dean of Manchester.

Name

Diocese of Manchester - Church of England

Legal name

Diocese of Manchester

Website

https://manchester.anglican.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1847

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Diocese of Manchester is a Church of England registered charity serving 2.2 million people across 416 square miles in Greater Manchester and Rossendale, supporting 256 parishes, 193 church schools, and 33 mission communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Organization Administration

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Ministerial Training Institutes (Clergy Formation) (EDAHAKAE)

Keywords

• Diocesan administration
• Parish support services
• Church education
• Clergy development
• Safeguarding services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bury

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Parish Share Contributions: Parishes contribute to the Diocesan Board of Finance through a Parish Share system, which funds clergy stipends and housing, finance, safeguarding, governance, and wider diocesan operations.
2. Donations and Fundraising: The diocese accepts donations online through the Wonderful platform (transaction-fee-free) and Give a Little (card payments). Donations support the Bishop's Ordination Fund and wider diocesan efforts to grow vocations and train ordinands.
3. Church Schools Funding: 193 Church of England schools across the diocese are mostly funded by local authorities. The diocese provides support with religious education, Christian ethos, governance, head teacher recruitment, admissions, and building projects.
4. Grants from National Church: The diocese has received significant additional funding from the national church through the Diocesan Investment Programme and the Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board (SMMIB) to support mission and ministry initiatives.
5. Fees for Services: The diocese collects fees for various services including DBF fees, marriage fees, and other parochial fees as governed by Church of England regulations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Diocese of Manchester provides ecclesiastical administration, pastoral care, education support, safeguarding, clergy development, and mission services across 256 parishes, 193 Church of England schools, and chaplaincies in Greater Manchester and Rossendale. It operates the Manchester Diocesan Board of Finance and Board of Education to fund clergy stipends, parish operations, and church schools, while delivering strategic programmes for parish renewal, church planting, racial justice, and net zero carbon by 2030.

Product overview

The Diocese of Manchester operates a comprehensive digital platform serving the Church of England community across Greater Manchester and Rossendale. The organization functions as an administrative religious body offering a unified website with integrated services spanning parish support, education (193 Church of England schools), safeguarding, clergy services, and strategic mission programmes. The digital presence comprises core service offerings including the Online Directory (manchester.diocesedirectory.org), Find a Church locator tool, News and Events portal, communication services (newsletter, podcasts, films, photos), and multiple support platforms for parishes, schools, and clergy. Strategic programmes include Parish Renewal, Growing Younger, Church Planting & Revitalisation (with Resource Churches and Antioch Network), Developing Missional Leaders, Net Zero Carbon initiatives, Racial Justice programmes (including Shades), and Disability Friendly initiatives. The diocese also provides specialised services such as Safeguarding with Parish Safeguarding Dashboards, various grant programmes, training resources (EQUIP, ENCOUNTER, EMERGE), giving platforms, and governance information.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Places Project: Creating places and pathways for children, young people and their families
• Man Dio Growing Faith
• ENCOUNTER
• EQUIP
• Shades Project
• Antioch Network
• Eco Diocese
• Eco Church
• Eco Stepping Stones

Products and services

• Parish Network Support Administrative, financial, governance, and missional support for 256 parishes and 175 benefices across the diocese, including Parish Share coordination, mission community collaboration, and renewal programmes.
• Church Schools Support (Manchester Diocesan Board of Education) Support for 193 Church of England primary and secondary schools educating over 58,000 pupils, including religious education, Christian ethos, governance, head teacher recruitment, admissions, and building projects, in partnership with 12 Local Authorities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Goal to increase church attendance by a third over the next ten years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Church of England (National Church)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Diocese of Manchester is part of the Church of England within the worldwide Anglican Communion, under the Northern Province. The national church provides strategic direction, funding (including Diocesan Investment Programme and SMMIB grants), safeguarding frameworks, and General Synod governance. The diocese participates in General Synod elections and aligns with the Church of England's overall vision.
• Thirtyone:eightcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThirtyone:eight is an independent safeguarding charity that provides a listening line (0303 003 1111) for those affected by abuse in church settings, available seven days a week. The organisation also provides confidential advice, guidance, and support for safeguarding concerns outside office hours for the diocese.
• Safe SpacescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSafe Spaces is a free and independent support service providing confidential, personal, and safe support for anyone who has been abused by someone in the Church or as a result of their relationship with the Church of England. Available by phone (0300 303 1056) and online at safespacesenglandandwales.org.uk.
• 12 Local Authorities (Blackburn with Darwen, Bury, Bolton, Lancashire, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Manchester Diocesan Board of Education works in close partnership with 12 Local Authorities to support Church of England schools. Local authorities provide the majority of school funding while the diocese supports with religious education, ethos, governance, and leadership.
• Antioch NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Antioch Network is a network of small churches ministering under a Bishop's Mission Order in the diocese. It focuses on establishing communities in areas where the diocese struggles to connect, often in deprived neighbourhoods. Churches are established based on relationships, and when congregations grow to about 50 people, they plant another church rather than expanding further.
• A Rocha UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA Rocha UK runs the Eco Church awards scheme, which encourages and supports churches in their care for God's creation. The diocese promotes Eco Church as part of its Net Zero Carbon strategy to help parishes measure and reduce their environmental impact.
• Wonderful (donations platform)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe diocese uses the Wonderful platform for online donations. Wonderful offers transaction-fee-free donations and fundraising services to registered charities. Donors are directed to their mobile banking app or online banking website to complete donations securely.
• Give a Little (card payment donations)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe diocese offers an alternative donation method via Give a Little, allowing donors to give using debit/credit cards, Google Pay, or Apple Pay for those who prefer not to use online banking.
• Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSCIE was commissioned to independently audit the safeguarding arrangements of the Diocese of Manchester. The audit took place from 23rd to 25th May 2017 and involved examination of case files, documents, conversations with key individuals, and focus groups of parish representatives.
• HLF Berry SolicitorscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHLF Berry Solicitors provides legal services to the diocese through Diocesan Registrar Donna Myers. The firm has a long history of working with charities and not-for-profit organisations and is responsible for providing legal advice on all ecclesiastical matters.
• Ancestry.co.ukminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMost parish registers of the Diocese of Manchester (including Manchester Cathedral) are available online at Ancestry.co.uk, including digitised original registers and name indexes of baptisms (1500s-1915), marriages (1500s-1930), and burials (1500s-1985). Free access is available from Manchester City Council libraries.
• Manchester CathedralcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManchester Cathedral (the Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Mary, St Denys and St George) is the mother church of the diocese and the seat of the Bishop of Manchester. It hosts diocesan events including ordinations, Year 6 leavers' services, and clergy development days. Led by Dean Rogers Govender.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Diocese of York: Large Anglican diocese in the North of England with a substantial church school network and comparable parish-share funding model. Similar scale and operating model with a strong education portfolio supporting children and young people ministry.
• Diocese of Chester: Adjacent Anglican diocese covering Cheshire, Greater Manchester fringe (parts of Stockport, Trafford, Tameside), and surrounding areas. Overlaps with Manchester's geography and shares the same parishes in some boroughs, with comparable parish-share and school-governance models.
• Diocese of Carlisle: Anglican diocese covering Cumbria and northern Lancashire. Same parish-share funding model, common national church funding streams, and similar governance structure; comparable in scale challenges around post-industrial and rural communities.
• Diocese of Southwark: South London Anglican diocese operating in a densely populated, diverse urban environment. Similar parish-share funding model, comparable church school portfolio, and multicultural congregation dynamics.
• Diocese of Blackburn: Anglican diocese in Lancashire whose boundaries overlap with the Diocese of Manchester (parts of Rossendale and Blackburn with Darwen). Operates the same governance structure, parish share system, and Church of England schools model.
• Diocese of Birmingham: Major urban Anglican diocese in the Midlands with significant ethnic diversity and a sizeable church school network. Comparable in operating diverse, post-industrial urban communities and managing similar parish-share and safeguarding challenges.
• Diocese of London: One of the largest Anglican dioceses by population density. Operates the same parish structure, parish-share model, and school network; densely populated urban context parallels Manchester's 4th-highest density positioning.
• Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich: Mid-sized Anglican diocese in East Anglia with comparable parish-share funding model, church school network, and similar focus on Growing Younger and church planting initiatives receiving SMMIB funding.
• Diocese of Oxford: Large Anglican diocese in the South East with a significant church school network and similar parish renewal, church planting, and young discipleship programmes. Comparable in mission-community model and national church funding participation.
• Diocese of Liverpool: Neighbouring Anglican diocese in the North West of England covering Merseyside and surrounding areas. Operates the same Church of England parish-share model, similar school network, and shared national church funding streams; the most direct geographic and structural peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DioManchester
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/manchesterdiocese
• Facebookfacebook.com/ManchesterDiocese
• Instagraminstagram.com/manc_diocese
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/diocese-of-manchester-cofe

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 records

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 Manchester - Church of England