The Church of England is poised to launch a new HR and payroll system.

Reaching more than 16,000 clergy and administrative staff across the UK, the system will include payroll and self service functions. Using HR solutions provider NorthgateArinso's web-enabled solution ResourceLink Aurora, it will bring together all people and pay systems under one umbrella solution, allowing the Church of England to transform the way it works and provide greater flexibility while cutting costs.

ResourceLink Aurora will be used to improve the efficiency of the selection and training process for clergy, as well as acting as a database to produce the definitive directory of Church of England clergy, "Crockford's".

Andrew Brown, secretary to the church commissioners and sponsor of the project said: "The new people and pay system will offer up-to-date functionality and immediate access to high quality information."

The Church will gain a single point of access to hold data and, through increased use of eForms and self-service tools instead of paper, will be able to manage its people and pay transactions in an environmentally friendly way.

It is hoped the integrated solution will also significantly improve the management reporting, strategy and decision making processes.