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Ministry Bursary Awards
Each year Ecclesiastical’s Ministry Bursary Awards provide financial support to members of the clergy taking a sabbatical.
What are the Ecclesiastical Ministry Bursary Awards?
Ecclesiastical’s Ministry Bursary Awards (MBA) grants are awarded to individual clergy in the Anglican Church in England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and Europe. The grants are open to Ministers, Archdeacons, Bishops, Deans, and Assistants1.
The MBAs can help you breathe life into your ministerial development in ways that enrich both you and the wider church. The experience of a sabbatical can be life-changing for individual clergy and have a long-lasting impact on your congregation and community.
Since being established in 1987, the Ecclesiastical MBAs have provided over £1.4 million to help over 1,500 members of the clergy to finance a wide range of extended leave projects and plans.
Applications for 2027 sabbaticals are now open!
The application window runs between April 2026 and September 2026. During that time all relevant forms and information are available on this page.
Judging will take place in November 2026, with the awards made in December 2026.
Good luck to all those currently on sabbatical or planning to be next year.
Entry criteria
Entries for an award must fulfil the following criteria:
- Awards are open to individual clergy in the Anglican Church in England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Europe
- All clergy must have been in ordained ministry for at least 10 years and not taken a sabbatical in the previous 7 years of applying
- Applications are also open to Archdeacons, Bishops, Deans and Assistants1
- Awards are provided for extended study leave only (fees for a course during the extended study leave may be considered)
- Entries must be made using the forms provided
- Completed forms should be emailed to mba@ecclesiastical.com
- We are particularly keen to see more sabbaticals which aim to support the drive for net zero carbon.
How to apply
- Read the terms and conditions and criteria documents
- Complete the ‘Application form'
- Ask your Bishop or Archdeacon to complete the ‘Endorsement form’
- Completed forms should be emailed to mba@ecclesiastical.com by 30 September 2026
- It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure the application and endorsement forms are submitted.
Judging criteria
Judging of the 2027 applications will take place during November 2026 and awards will be made in December 2026.
The amount given for individual awards will be judged on the following criteria:
- Value to the individual applicant
- Benefit to the wider church
- Financial support already committed from other sources
- The strength of the endorsement from a Bishop or Archdeacon supporting the plans.
1Assistants are classified as Assistant Curates, Deacons and Licensed Lay Workers including Church Army Evangelists engaged in the parochial ministry. Source: GS Misc 1399 The 52nd Report of the Central Stipends Authority Published by the Archbishops’ Council 2024
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