Church Pastoral Aid Society

The CPAS was founded in 1836 in the midst of the social upheaval of the Industrial Revolution to take 'the gospel to every man’s door, with a single eye to the glory of God'.[2] Its founders included the prominent social reformer Lord Shaftesbury.[2]

It initially sought to fulfil its vision by giving grants to poorest parishes to enable them to take on extra help. One early recipient of such a grant was Haworth, which enabled its minister, Patrick Brontë, to employ a curate, Arthur Nicholls, who later married Patrick's daughter, Charlotte.[2] Charlotte summarised and praised the early work of the CPAS in the opening of her 1846 novel Shirley:

"Of late years, I say, an abundant shower of curates has fallen upon the north of England, but in eighteen-hundred-eleven-twelve that affluent rain had not descended. Curates were scarce then: there was no Pastoral Aid - no Additional Curates' Society to stretch a helping hand to worn-out old rectors and incumbents, and give them the wherewithal to pay a vigorous young colleague from Oxford or Cambridge."[2]

While the CPAS has since diversified in its methods, which now notably include its holidays for young people, it retains its original vision of "enabl[ing] churches to help every person hear and discover the good news of Jesus Christ."

The CPAS works with churches across Ireland and the United Kingdom. Its aim is to "enable churches to help every person hear and discover the good news of Jesus". Its activities include the Growing Leaders suite of resources, the Arrow Leadership Programme, weekends, and a range of events and resources for youth and children's leaders.

CPAS is responsible for Ventures and Falcon Camps, which are holidays for 8-18s. Falcon Camps are subsidised holidays for young people who might not otherwise be able to go on holiday. CPAS also has responsibility (sole or shared) for 512 patronages of Anglican churches up and down the country, and seeks to fill vacant incumbency posts with evangelical leaders.

There is a head office team who develop and deliver tools, training and resources for churches. The general director is Rev John Dunnett.

Their records are held at the University of Birmingham Special Collections.

The following comments were made on 180th anniversary of the foundation of the CPAS:

• "CPAS has a wonderful track record since 1836 of serving local parish churches and of working with their leaders to enable the church to share the Christian faith in our land": Andrew Watson, Bishop of Guildford
• "I hear story after story of how CPAS has energised and enabled the witness of local church leaders and the churches to which they belong": Mike Hill, Bishop of Bristol
• "There are very few mission organisations who have managed to impact the Church of England to the same degree as CPAS": Paul Williams, Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham

• Official website