The Board of Finance is a statutory body, established under the Diocesan Boards of Finance Measure 1925 and, as required by that Measure, a company registered under the Companies Act. It is also a registered Charity and members are therefore Charity trustees. The Board acts as the financial executive of the Diocesan Synod, is responsible for preparing the annual budget and accounts of the Diocese, and acts in accordance with the policy and directives of the Synod.
The principal aim of the Board of Finance is the promotion of the work of the Church of England in the Diocese of St Albans which covers Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Luton and part of the London Borough of Barnet. This objective is achieved by the collection of contributions from parishes via the Parish Share Scheme to support parochial mission and ministry, primarily by paying and housing parochial clergy, and supporting the statutory and non-statutory work of the Diocese.
The Board holds properties and investments in support of the clergy in the Diocese and also as Custodian Trustee on behalf of parish and church school trusts. It is responsible for the management of glebe land and other property, including houses occupied by diocesan officials, and Holywell Lodge.
The Board deals with a range of other matters such as risk management, contracts for buildings and services, insurance, pensions, and the employment of the Board’s staff.
In addition to the support of local Anglican churches, the Board also works in partnership with other denominations in both local and countrywide ecumenical projects.
The Board normally meets five times a year in the Diocesan Office in St Albans, but in the first year of the triennium there is an additional meeting in January for the purpose of appointing the Board’s Committees.
Download latest set of audited Report and Accounts
Membership: (2025-2027)
Chair: Dr T Coulson
Clergy Elected by the Diocesan Synod: The Reverend K David, the Reverend Dr S Forrest, the Reverend T George, the Reverend J Hookway, the Reverend C Kilgour
Laity Elected by the Diocesan Synod: Mr A Brown, Ms M Butcher, Mr N Challis, Dr T Coulson, Dr D Dallinger, Mr R Lindley, Mr D Roberts, Ms E Sivyer, Mr T Snell, Dr L Spring, Mr J Stewart
Nominated by the Bishop: The Archdeacon of St Albans, The Archdeacon of Bedford, The Archdeacon of Hertford, the Revd Canon A Thomas and one vacancy
Officers in attendance:
Diocesan Secretary: Mr D White
Director of Finance: Mr G Barker
Property Director: Mrs C Kirby
Governance and Compliance Officer: Mrs G Gunbey
St Albans Diocesan Board of Finance is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales: No.145227.
Registered Office: Holywell Lodge, 41 Holywell Hill, St Albans AL1 1HE
Registered as a charity in England and Wales: No. 248887
Diocesan Board of Finance Constitution
Dates of Meetings in 2026:
Monday 23 February
Monday 18 May – AGM
Monday 13 July
Monday 21 September
Monday 16 November
The Board has seven main committees:
Assets Committee
The role of the Assets Committee is to recommend to the DBF an overall strategy for the management of the Board’s investment and operational assets consistent with the functional priorities of the Diocese, and the responsibilities of the Board as Charity Trustees to current and future beneficiaries.
Membership: (2025-2027)
Chair: Mr R Lindley
Vice Chair: Mr A Brown
Ex-officio: Dr T Coulson (Chair of DBF), Mr A Brown (Chair of Glebe Committee)
Appointed by DBF: Mr A Brown, Mr B Crawford, Mr R Lindley, Mr B Seddon, Mr J Stewart
Appointed by DBE: Vacancy
Assets Committee Constitution
Dates of Meetings in 2026:
Monday 02 March
Wednesday 20 May
Tuesday 21 July
Tuesday 17 November
Dates of Meetings in 2027:
Monday 01 March
Wednesday 19 May
Monday 06 September
Tuesday 16 November
Audit and Risk Committee
The Committee’s overall purpose is to provide a formal link between the Board of Finance and the company’s external auditor, reviewing the scope and any recommendations arising from the external audit. In doing so, the Committee reviews the integrity of the company’s financial statements, its internal control and risk management systems and related financial compliance processes.
Membership: (2025-2027)
Chair: The Reverend A Thomas
Vice Chair: Mr N Challis
Appointed by the DBF: The Reverend A Thomas, Mr N Challis, Mr D Roberts
Audit and Risk Committee Constitution
Dates of Meetings in 2026:
Wednesday 06 May
Wednesday 14 October
Dates of Meetings in 2027:
Wednesday 09 June
Wednesday 20 October
Budget Committee
The Committee works with the Diocesan Secretary and Director of Finance to develop an annual budget for approval by the DBF and Diocesan Synod. In addition, they monitor performance against budget within a financial year and consider the rolling five-year forecasts prepared by the Director of Finance.
Membership: (2025-2027)
Chair: The Reverend A Thomas
Vice Chair: Mr R Lindley
Ex-officio: Dr T Coulson (Chair of the DBF)
Appointed by the DBF: The Archdeacon of St Albans, The Reverend T George, the Reverend A Thomas, Mr R Lindley, Mr J Stewart
Budget Committee Constitution
Dates of Meetings in 2026:
Tuesday 27 January
Monday 13 April
Monday 13 July
Tuesday 01 September
Thursday 10 September
Dates of Meetings in 2027:
Tuesday 26 January
Wednesday 21 April
Wednesday 14 July
Thursday 02 September
Thursday 09 September
Glebe Committee
The Glebe Committee deals with the glebe properties vested in the Board under the Church Property Measure 2018. Members are appointed by the Board of Finance and it meets four times a year. The overall aim of the Committee is to maintain and increase total returns from the diocesan glebe by actively managing the glebe portfolio. The diocesan glebe estate comprises around 3,300 acres of agricultural land and is managed by the glebe agents for the benefit of the clergy stipends fund, so the glebe holdings are an important resource, supporting ministry in the Diocese.
To find out more about Glebe please read ‘What is Glebe‘.
Membership: (2025-2027)
Chair: Mr A Brown
Vice Chair: Viscount H Knutsford
Ex-officio: The Archdeacon of Bedford, The Archdeacon of Hertford, The Archdeacon of St Albans, Dr T Coulson (Chair of the DBF)
Appointed by the DBF: Mr A Brown, Viscount H Knutsford, Mr R Lindley, Mr T Martin, Mr T Snell
Co-opted: Mr R Lewis
Glebe Committee Constitution
Dates of Meetings in 2026:
Monday 23 February
Wednesday 22 April
Wednesday 01 July (and Glebe tour)
Wednesday 11 November
Dates of Meetings in 2027:
Wednesday 03 February
Wednesday 21 April
Wednesday 30 June (and Glebe tour)
Wednesday 10 November
Parish Grants Committee
The Parish Grants Committee allocates funding under a number of diocesan grants, including Church Repair Grants, Capital Support Grants and City Church Fund Grants.
Membership: (2025-2027)
Chair: The Right Reverend R Wickham
Vice Chair: Mr R Lindley
Ex-officio: The Archdeacon of Bedford, The Archdeacon of Hertford, The Archdeacon of St Albans, Dr T Coulson (Chair of the DBF)
Appointed by the DBF: The Right Reverend R Wickham, the Reverend J Hookway, Mr A Brown, Mrs E Sivyer, Mr R Lindley
Parish Grants Committee Constitution
Dates of Meetings in 2026:
Thursday 05 March
Wednesday 10 June
Wednesday 16 September
Wednesday 18 November
Dates of Meetings in 2027:
Wednesday 03 March
Wednesday 09 June
Wednesday 15 September
Wednesday 17 November
Property Committee
The Property Committee oversees the management of parsonage houses by
- 1) Ensuring the Board meets its statutory duty to carry out repairs.
- 2) Replacing unsuitable houses where possible.
- 3) Improving properties.
- 4) Realising development potential of sites.
- 5) Selling houses no longer required.
- 6) Letting houses during vacancies.
- 7) Providing new houses where required.
The Committee also deals with the Board’s own properties.
Membership: (2025-2027)
Chair: Mr T Snell
Vice Chair: The Reverend R Barr
Ex-officio: The Archdeacon of Bedford, The Archdeacon of Hertford, The Archdeacon of St Albans, Dr T Coulson (Chair of the DBF)
Nominated by the Bishop: Vacancy
Appointed by the DBF: The Reverend T George, Mr T Snell
Elected by diocesan clergy: The Reverend R Barr, The Reverend K David, The Reverend M Shea
Elected by Synod: Mr D Dallinger, Mr D Lambert, Ms A White
Property Committee Constitution
Dates of Meetings in 2026:
Tuesday 03 March
Tuesday 23 June
Tuesday 15 September
Tuesday 20 October (Property Improvements Allocation only)
Tuesday 24 November
Dates of Meetings in 2027:
Tuesday 02 March
Tuesday 22 June
Tuesday 14 September
Tuesday 19 October (Property Improvements Allocation only)
Tuesday 23 November
