Clergy Wellbeing

Clergy are certainly not the only ministers in the life of the Church.

However, whether stipendiary or otherwise, clergy often find themselves shouldering a complex array of responsibilities particular to their calling. Many other ministers, such as Readers or Evangelists, will nonetheless recognise much of this content as pertinent to their experience.

Ministry is usually intensely rewarding: serving God and serving our neighbours can bring great joy.

It also stressful, in all kinds of ways and for all kinds of reasons. It bears the weight of the expectations, hopes and concerns of all those we encounter - the church community, the wider local community, the wider Church, and society at large.

Most of the time, most of us are able to manage the array of joys and challenges that ministry presents. Most clergy also experience the reality of being overstretched; most clergy will sometimes feel unable to cope.

It is essential to know how to get help, and then to get the help, whenever necessary.

Good Practice

Attend to your spiritual well-being: prayer, Scripture, the holy sacraments - ensure that these remain a source of nourishment for you, and are not just something that you facilitate for other people.
Attend to your personal health care: rest, sleep, exercise, diet - these all help to keep you physically, emotionally and spiritually well.
Observe a discipline of making a spiritual retreat each year. It may be possible to receive some financial assistance towards this if need be.
Observe a regular rest day (a personal sabbath) and develop a personal discipline of rest and renewal which is respected by colleagues and parishioners.
Structure your working days with space for necessary personal time and rest.
Be careful to take the full leave allowance in the Clergy Terms of Service: The annual holiday entitlement is four weeks to include four Sundays per annum plus those Bank Holidays which do not fall on Christmas Day and Good Friday. In addition a Cleric is also entitled to two periods of six days' holidays to be taken after Christmas and Easter." When on holiday, please do leave the demands of ministry behind!

Clergy Wellbeing Leaflet 2026

Resources

ReSource

ReSource exists to support local churches in spiritual renewal. With Anglican roots, we work in the Church of England and beyond, with a particular focus on ‘little, local, ordinary’ churches and their leaders, lay and ordained.

Resourcing Renewal

Cynnal

The Churches Counselling Service in Wales, Cynnal, provides an excellent completely confidential counselling service for all ministers of religion and their families.

Clergy Support Trust

The Clergy Support Trust supports Anglican clergy in all kinds of ways, not least with financial grants and help with counselling.

www.clergysupport.org.uk

St Luke’s For Clergy

St Luke's for Clergy is dedicated to helping the psychological wellbeing of clergy and their families.

www.stlukesforclergy.org.uk

020 4546 7000

The Sheldon Hub

A safe online resource hub for clergy, offering mutual support and signposting to resources of all kinds. It is a ministry of Devon-based Society of Mary & Martha, which provides retreats, courses and counselling for Christian ministers. www.sheldonhub.org 01647 252752

Local Colleagues- We are brothers and sisters in Christ, with a responsibility to support and encourage each other. One advantage of the move to a Ministry Area structure is the opportunity to develop positive supportive relationships within our local ministry area leadership teams. We can lean on each other and alert each other to signs of over-stress.

Concerns about a colleague's wellbeing- If you have concerns about a colleague’s wellbeing, voice your concerns as appropriate with them, or a senior colleague. If a colleague comes to you for help, please listen carefully to all that they have to say, then discuss with them the benefits of getting further help from a senior colleague or the wider Church. If necessary, make contact on their behalf if they give their consent.

Spiritual Direction- It is good practice for clergy to have a discipline of receiving spiritual direction, or having a "soul friend" - a wise, trusted Christian able to listen, offering prayerful response and guidance in your faith, discipleship and ministry. The diocesan spirituality advisor can offer help in finding a spiritual director.

Mutual Support Groups- Many clergy participate in “cell” groups which are not geographically based, allowing a space where chosen spiritual friendships can develop for prayer, and the sharing of the joys and challenges of ministry – a community of prayerful reflective practice. We can be mutually accountable, honest with each other about signs of stress, and responsive to trusted counsel.

The Diocese- Senior colleagues are available to help understand and manage the variety of burdens that clergy bear. It can feel hard to admit to finding things difficult, but senior colleagues - Ministry Area Leaders, Area Deans, Archdeacons, the Bishop - will be familiar with the stresses of ministry, and will have experience, wisdom, and practical help to bring to bear.

Spiritual Direction

It is good practice for clergy to have a discipline of receiving spiritual direction. A trusted Christian able to listen, offering prayerful response and guidance in your faith, discipleship and ministry. Fr Edward Owen, Diocesan Spirituality Advisor can offer help in finding a spiritual director. Email: edwardowen@churchinwales.org.uk

Mutual support groups

Many clergy participate in cell groups which are not geographically based, allowing a space where chosen spiritual friendships can develop for prayer, and the sharing of the joys and challenges of ministry – a community of prayerful reflective practice. Contact Tim Jones, Director of Ministry, if you are interested in joining or setting up a cell group. Email: timjones@churchinwales.org.uk

Senior Colleagues

Senior colleagues are available to help understand and manage the variety of burdens that clergy bear. It can feel hard to admit to finding things difficult, but senior colleagues – Ministry Area Leaders, Area Deans, Archdeacons, the Bishop – will be familiar with the stresses of ministry, and will have experience, wisdom, and practical help to bring to bear.

Church in Wales Clergy Handbook

The Church in Wales Clergy Handbook provides a clear outline for the ways in which clergy can be protected from overwork:

Observe a regular rest day (a personal sabbath) and develop a personal discipline of rest and renewal which is respected by colleagues and parishioners.
Structure your working days with space for necessary personal time and rest.
Be careful to take the full leave allowance for clergy in the clergy Terms of Service: “The annual holiday entitlement is four weeks to include four Sundays per annum plus those Bank Holidays which do not fall on Christmas Day and Good Friday. In addition a Cleric is also entitled to two periods of six days holidays to be taken after Christmas and Easter.” When on holiday, leave the demands of ministry behind.

Recognising that you’re not just stretched but seriously overstretched can itself feel like extra burden. If possible, it is always best to seek help long before reaching a personal crisis point. If the prospect of seeking help feels like it might be an impossible challenge, then paradoxically the time has already come to find someone in whom to confide immediately. Talk to a trusted colleague, or contact Cynnal. The Samaritans provide a national 24-hour confidential helpline for anyone in need – dial 116 123

Dignity at Work

Everyone deserves to be treated with respect. Conflict is inevitable in any group, including church, and without care can descend into poor behaviour. Clergy can be particularly vulnerable because of their place in the web of local community relationships. If you believe that someone (including yourself) is repeatedly being treated badly, or even bullied, then it is important voice your concern to an appropriate senior colleague.

Prayer

Lord, you know me through and through.

Help me find all that I need to serve you well. When I feel stretched too far, give me the strength to seek support.

Guard me, guide me, and bless me with companions in the way. In Jesus’ holy name.

Amen.