The Diocese of Ely supports clergy and their families with suitable housing which is safe, comfortable and fit for purpose, both as a place of work and as a home.
The Property Department is responsible for the provision and maintenance of these houses. It is also supports clergy house moves and parishes with empty properties can also benefit from their advice.
If you need support with any aspect of your clergy home, please contact stella.green@elydiocese.org.
Diocese Property Office Contact Details
- Contact Name: Stella Green, Property Manager
- Email: stella.green@elydiocese.org
- Office Hours (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm): 01353 652704
- Out of hours: 07956 252325
Approved Ely Diocesan Emergency Contractors
If you have an emergency with your property and need to contact someone to resolve it, please view a list of approved contractors on the link below.
Plumbing & Heating Engineer |
Gas Leaks Only |
Electrician |
Blocked drains |
| N R Plumbing & Heating: 07710 990397 or 01353 665323 | Transco: 0800 111 999 | Harnwell Electrical: 01945 773207 | Mitchell & Mayle: 01353 687984 |
General Repairs |
Roof work |
Emergency Tree Work |
Emergency locksmiths |
| Langridge Construction: 07912 843220 | Gary Pittock: 07929 447780 | Eastern Landscapes: 07831 123533 | Halls of Cambridge: 01223 416000 |
A Guide to Living in a Parsonage House
As responsibility for maintaining a property is shared between the diocese and the the occupant, a housing guide has been produced which explains how our houses are maintained, who is responsible for what, and when.
This guide has been produced in conjunction with the Houses Committee's current policies. It provides vital information for the day-to-day maintenance and running of your home. If there are any aspects of housing you are unsure of, please contact the department.
Retirement Housing
Information on retirement housing on the Church of England webpages.
Cold Weather Procedure
Should you be going away at any time during a period of cold weather, a seasonal reminder to please take all necessary measures to ensure that there is sufficient background heat in your home to prevent hot and cold pipes or the central heating boiler freezing up. It’s always advisable to ask someone local to keep a watchful eye on the property.
Where radiators are fitted with thermostatic radiator valves, it would be sensible to turn these down to the frost stat setting (the “ice crystal” logo) after which they will only come on when the room temperature is around 4 or 5 degrees centigrade. The boiler can operate normally and its internal thermostat will allow it to cut off when the water temperature has reached the pre-set limit, thus saving expenditure on unnecessary heating.
Whilst you are away, it is also sensible to ensure that the stopcock is turned off in order to limit any damage in the unfortunate event of a serious leak. If your home is heated using a modern condensing boiler, it would be wise to ensure that the external condensation pipe is free of frozen condensate prior to starting the boiler on your return (use warm water to defrost). You may want to wrap the pipe with insulation prior to going away and to ask a neighbour to check the pipe during times of extreme weather. Please also ensure that external (or garage) taps are turned off and insulated.
Where your home is heated by oil, it would be sensible to check oil tank fuel levels well before your break in order to ensure a sufficient supply of heating oil. Please remember that should the heating oil run out, the cost of enabling the system will not be met from the Houses Committee budget and you also run the risk of serious damage to boiler pumps, etc.
Homes for Ukraine
A number of individuals from across the Diocese, including clergy, have been in touch wishing to know how they might be able to use their homes to support the Homes for Ukraine Scheme.
- Guidance on the Homes for Ukraine Scheme in the Diocese of Ely.
We ask that if those living in a Parsonage House are considering signing-up to the scheme, they contact the Property Manager, Stella Green by email on stella.green@elydiocese.org. Stella will be able to provide further information and support in addition to what is published online that those in Diocesan houses might find useful.