Engaging with young ecumenists is a key priority for Churches Together in England. We are working to involve them across all our workstreams and at all our events.
Young adults across the different traditions of our Member Churches have helped to shape and set up The Bill Snelson Young Ecumenists Fund. This fund will help those aged 18 to 35 to experience ecumenism outside England. The experience can be study, pilgrimage, volunteering or any activity that promotes church unity.
“We’re putting our money where our mouth is,” says CTE General Secretary Bishop Mike Royal. “We’re investing not in the generation of the future; but in the generation of today.”
CTE’s Min Shermara Fletcher-Hoyte, who is leading the young ecumenists project, says: “Ecumenism is a great opportunity to explore Christian traditions outside of your own that will help you to deepen your understanding of God as well as build relationships with your brothers and sisters in Christ from other traditions.
“The opportunity to do this abroad is life-changing and CTE is committed to creating this platform for you to do this. Apply! This could be the catalyst that transforms your experience of faith, and allows you to make new friends and join new communities.”
Applications to this round of The Bill Snelson Young Ecumenists Fund need to be submitted by 31 March 2024. The fund will then open for another round of applications in Autumn 2024.
Across these two rounds, there is approximately £6,000 available. There are no minimum or maximum amounts for which one can apply. However, the decision-making panel are keen to fund as wide a range of opportunities as possible with the budget available to them.
Previous Snelson Fund awardees
Six applicants were successful in the first cohort of applicants from October 2023. Read more about Sam, Sarah, Joe, John, Rebecca and Nicholas and where they will be travelling.
Key application criteria
- Applicants should be affiliated with a CTE national Member Church
- Applicants should be between the ages of 18 and 35 at the time of their ecumenical experience
Visit The Bill Snelson Fund for Young Ecumenists microsite.
Download the guide to The Bill Snelson Fund for Young Ecumenists.