On 11th June 2025, Marsha De Cordova MP, representing the Church Commissioners, gave the following written answers to questions from MPs:
Human Trafficking and Slavery
Jim Shannon MP (DUP, Strangford): To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, if she will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the steps the Church is taking to help tackle (a) modern slavery and (b) human trafficking.
Marsha De Cordova MP (Lab, Battersea): Modern slavery remains hidden in British society, and the National Church Institutions of the Church of England take human trafficking and modern slavery seriously. With the support of the then Prime Minister Theresa May, the Church set up the Clewer Initiative in 2017 as its response to the prevalence of modern slavery, developing several tools for addressing modern slavery through the ‘Car Wash’ and ‘Nail Bar’ apps, and creating resources for identifying and tackling the exploitative agricultural and social care labour, sexual exploitation, and county lines trafficking
The Clewer Initiative continues to work closely across the Church in its parishes and dioceses to raise awareness through engagement with police, support and information services, and direct work with victims of trafficking in communities. You can find out more about their work here: https://theclewerinitiative.org(opens in a new tab). As the Clewer Initiative is in the process of becoming a separate charity, the National Church Institutions cannot provide a more detailed assessment of their work
The parishes of the Church of England are, through the clergy and congregations, committed to tackling the issues of modern slavery and offering support and signposting to victims on an ongoing basis
The Church Commissioners have continued at a global level to challenge the businesses in which they invest to tackle modern slavery in their supply chains. Details about the policies of the National Investing Bodies towards Human Rights, modern slavery, and combating trafficking can be found here: human-rights-advice-and-policy.pdf(opens in a new tab). Page 38 of the Church Commissioners’ stewardship report also gives more details about how the Church Commissioners are addressing modern slavery in the companies in which they invest: https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2024-10/6677_cc_stewardship_v11b_0.pdf
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The Lord Bishop of Bristol, who serves as the Church’s lead Bishop on modern slavery, continues to advocate for more action on modern slavery through her work in Parliament with the Government and civil society. London has the highest number of reported cases of modern slavery, and the Diocese of London has recently launched a campaign and resources to inform, support and address this issue. More information can be found here: https://www.london.anglican.org/church-and-parish-support/compassionate-communities/refugees-asylum-seekers-modern-slavery/responding-to-modern-slavery/?searchterm=modern+slavery
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National Church Institutions staff are also receiving training to help them spot signs of modern slavery and how to access help for those affected.
Additional Curates Society: Finance
Andrew Rosindell (Con, Romford): To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, whether the Commissioners have received reports of financial impropriety at the Additional Curates Society.
Marsha De Cordova: The Church Commissioners have not received any reports regarding the Additional Curates Society. As a separate charity, the Additional Curates Society does not come under the remit or management of the Church Commissioners or the National Church Institutions.
Church of England: Land
James McCleary (LD, Lewes): To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, if the Commissioners will publish a map of the land the Church owns in Lewes constituency; how much land the Church owns in that constituency broken down by land use; and what proportion of that land not in agricultural use is managed with the primary aim of (a) conserving nature and (b) restoring natural ecosystems.
Marsha De Cordova: The Church Commissioners do not own land in the constituency of Lewes, and the closest assets are situated in West Sussex and Kent.
The Church Commissioners register all farmland holdings with the Land Registry, providing public access to ownership details. Details are also available about the management of these holdings in the annual report, which is available in the House of Commons Library or online here: https://www.churchofengland.org/about/governance/national-church-institutions/church-commissioners-england/who-we-are/publications(opens in a new tab)
Due to the disproportionate cost of producing and maintaining a map alongside the need to respect the interests of our tenants, the Church Commissioners do not intend to publish a map of our land holdings.
The Church Commissioners remain committed to providing updates on initiatives that support both nature and community development, including biodiversity projects, sustainable food production, and housing.
The most recent stewardship report regarding the management of our timberland and biodiversity on farmland can be found here on page 34: https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2024-10/6677_cc_stewardship_v11b_0.pdf(opens in a new tab)
James McCleary: To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, whether the Church Commissioners have a target for the proportion of the Church’s land it plans to protect for nature by (a) 2030 and (b) other future dates.
Marsha De Cordova: The Church Commissioners do not have a target to allocate a fixed percentage of land exclusively for nature protection.
Much of the land managed by the Church Commissioners is leased to tenants for farming and food production, with over 90% classed as highly productive or productive (Grade I-III) or sustainable forestry. Our approach is holistic, aiming to optimise land management by integrating nature recovery alongside these activities rather than re-allocating land solely to protect nature. We work with Wildlife Trusts and Natural England through specific nature-focused tenancies, including a marshland restoration project with the RSPB.
We also support tenant farmers in adopting sustainable practices and integrating nature projects. A survey of over 80 tenants found that 91% are carrying out initiatives to increase biodiversity, and 80% participate in government environmental schemes. All our established forests are managed sustainably, and all harvested timber is certified. In the UK, biodiversity is the primary management objective for at least 20% of our forests by area, including native woodland, which we have doubled since acquisition
More information about the sustainability and stewardship of our land can be found here: https://www.churchofengland.org/about/leadership-and-governance/national-church-institutions/church-commissioners-england/how-we-0(opens in a new tab)
The most recent report about our approach to timberland and biodiversity on farmland can be found here on page 34: https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2024-10/6677_cc_stewardship_v11b_0.pdf
The Church of England in Parliament 
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