Your clergy house is both your home and a vital part of your ministry.
There is no one body that owns all church property. The Diocese of Oxford maintains around 440 clergy homes across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, supporting ministry in communities large and small.
This section brings together the guidance and contacts you may need while living in a diocesan or private rented property, whether you are moving home, looking for information about repairs and maintenance, or simply want to understand how housing is managed.
The diocese is committed to providing homes that are safe, suitable, well maintained and increasingly sustainable. We recognise that every property and household is different, and we encourage you to contact the Property Team whenever you need advice or support.
Glebe
While very conscious of the many environmental and local community benefits it offers, the primary purpose of glebe land is to provide income to support clergy stipends across all the parishes of the diocese.
Historically, parish ministers, living with very modest means, were supported by the Church providing small plots of ground on which they could graze animals. Over time the need for these ‘glebe’ parcels of land diminished and they became increasingly used for parks, sports pitches, community spaces and woodland. In 1976 the way the costs of parish ministry are supported changed, and the ownership of all glebe lands transferred to Diocesan Boards of Finance (DBF), with responsibility to manage them through agricultural, commercial, residential and recreational uses to ensure the best return.
The income from these glebe land assets, most commonly rental income or proceeds from sale, provides a continuous flow of income into the Diocesan Stipend Fund, which supports the cost of clergy across the whole diocese. The wise stewardship of glebe lands, including sales when appropriate, is therefore vital to supporting on-going parish ministry.
Find out more about:
- Clergy housing or other diocesan-owned property
- Private rented property. You may also like to contact the Property Transactions Manager
- Glebe land
Contact the Property Team
For general enquiries about diocesan property, maintenance or housing matters:
Property enquiries
propertyenquiries@oxford.anglican.org
Repairs and maintenance
property.maintenance@oxford.anglican.org
Telephone
01865 208 200
Out-of-hours emergencies for diocesan-owned property
Central heating, hot water or plumbing issues
Call Uniheat on 07802 900 153.
Electrics
For example, loss of power after checking with your local supplier. Contact Giles Eadle Electrical on 07831 306 416.
Blocked drains
If the drains are shared with your neighbours, check that they are experiencing the same issues. If they are, contact the local water authority, who are responsible for clearing blockages in shared foul drains. Contact details will be on the local authority website.
If your neighbours are not experiencing issues, call OPC Drain Services on 01235 835 999.
Smell gas?
Call 0800 111 999. Find more information on the Gas Safe Register website.
At the earliest opportunity, please inform the Property Department of actions taken, and any cost incurred will be reimbursed on production of receipts.
For all other emergencies please email property.maintenance@oxford.anglican.org.
We appreciate your understanding and co-operation.