What is Cornerstone?
Cornerstone is the Church of England’s free, national generosity tool, created to help parishes understand their finances, grow a culture of generosity, and identify practical steps to increase income.
By bringing together data, guidance, and resources in one place, Cornerstone supports your church in making confident, informed decisions about giving and stewardship.
Watch the video below.
Cornerstone’s three main offerings – Insights – Pathways – Grants
Insights
Cornerstone uses Parish Finance Return data to give you a clear, detailed picture of your church’s finances and giving patterns. It helps you see what is going well and where to focus your efforts.
Pathways
Pathways break down key areas of generosity into simple, manageable guides. Whether it’s teaching on giving, running a campaign, or improving communication, each step is practical and achievable.
Grants Database
Cornerstone gives access to hundreds of funding opportunities suitable for churches, helping you identify and apply for grants more easily.
Why Generosity Matters
The ministry and mission of the Church are sustained through the generosity of God’s people — through giving of time, talent, and treasure.
Cornerstone helps your parish take a step back, reflect on your current giving culture, and take intentional steps forward. It equips you to respond faithfully and confidently to the challenges and opportunities you face.
The Diocese of Winchester is here to support you as you begin using Cornerstone.
We can help with: Supporting stewardship conversations and campaigns – Getting started with the platform – Interpreting your Insights – Choosing the right Pathways
Look out for future Webinar and workshop dates in our diocesan mailer; these are an opportunity to further support your parish in getting to grips with Cornerstone.
Grants Database
With over 900 grant providers listed for free in a single filterable database, Cornerstone is a brilliant tool for seeking financial support for specific projects. Please remember that approaching grant providers requires real insight and understanding into your project and current financial picture, and can be a complex process. We advise that in the first instance, when looking for grants, please seek advice from our Assistant Diocesan Secretary, Jayne Tarry, for an initial conversation on the topic. jayne.tarry@winchesterdiocese.org.
Get Started Today…
To get started with Cornerstone, email jordan.shepherd@winchesterdiocese.org requesting access, and we will invite you to join the platform via email. Please use as much of the Cornerstone website as is useful for you and your parish.
