The annual notification of revisions to the Church of England Parochial fees, generates significant interest beyond the normal scope of “law and religion” posts; however, the management of these fees is of particular importance within the Church of England, and we have published a number of posts on the application of the Clergy Discipline Measure, and on issues of general interest.

General issues

• Hospital chaplains, funerals and parochial fees, In mid-January 2015 the Church of England issued further guidance on Crematorium funerals and parochial fees to supplement that published earlier in the month: the comprehensive Guide to Church of England Parochial Fees and the associated Frequently Asked Questions covering the recently-enacted provisions within the Ecclesiastical Fees (Amendment) Measure 2011. The Guidance on crematorium funerals was produced, in part a response to Re Hawthorne [2015] and associated requests for clarification of the legal position on retired clergy and self-supporting ministers. (16 March 2015).
• “Freelance clergy”, crematorium funerals and parochial fees, (4 February 2015).
• Fees and “extras” for Church weddings and funerals, Synod debates (and rejects) a motion from the Worcester Diocese on Parochial Fees, (GS 2017A and GS 2017B), calling for fees prescribed as payable to parochial church councils in respect of funerals and weddings to include any costs and expenses of providing a verger”,  (17 February 2016).
• Church weddings, increased fees and “extras”, (23 January 2013).
• Fees and “extras” for Church weddings and funerals, Synod debates (and rejects) a motion from the Worcester Diocese on Parochial Fees, (GS 2017A and GS 2017B), calling for fees prescribed as payable to parochial church councils in respect of funerals and weddings to include any costs and expenses of providing a verger”,  (17 February 2016).
• Church weddings, increased fees and “extras”, the Church of England has introduced a new scheme through the Ecclesiastical Fees (Amendment) Measure 2011, which although coming into force in 2011, did not become effective until 1 January 2013 under the Parochial Fees and Scheduled Matters Amending Order 2012. (23 January 2013).
• Increased fee for issue of Marriage Certificate, the two-tier fee system for church weddings has been replaced with a single fee regardless of when the Certificate is issued.  (9 February 2019).
• Brides who arrive late. Parochial fees, discounts and “extras” (5 January 2018).
• A Church of England Wedding for £1,000?, (29 April 2019).
• New advice on “extras” for weddings and funerals, On Thursday 21 February, the General Synod of the Church of England approved a new scheme for parochial fees which will be applicable for the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive. Earlier in February, the General Synod Legal Advisory Commission issued the advice Weddings and Funerals: Additional Charges. (5 March 2019).

Clergy Discipline Measure

• Clergy discipline, former clergy and parochial fees – II, Further consideration of Hawthorne by the secular courts. (3 July 2019).
• Clergy discipline, former clergy and parochial fees – I, Consideration by the ecclesiastical courts, Re Hawthorne, (29 January 2015).
• Funeral fees pursued in Crown Court, Former vicar sentenced for fraud in Liverpool Crown Court (24 March 2017).
• The Revd Dr Andrew Hawthorne. Decision; Penalty. (January 2015).

Notifications of revisions to fees

• Church of England Parochial Fees 2023, (8 December 2022).
• Church of England Parochial Fees 2022, (23 November 2021).
• Church of England Parochial Fees 2021, (25 November 2020).
• Church of England Parochial Fees 2020, (5 November 2019).
• Church of England Parochial Fees 2019, (16 November 2018)
• Church of England Parochial Fees – Changes for 2020 to 2024, (2 February 2019).
• Parochial Fees: Church in Wales, unsuccessful proposal to abolish parochial fees in CiW from 2018. The Representative Body had proposed that from 2018, stipendiary clergy would be invited to voluntarily surrender fees, so that the income might be used by dioceses to support ministry. In return, those clergy would receive a fee allowance (£1600 at 2014 levels) in addition to stipend. (24 April 2015).

Last updated, 21 December 2022 at 17:10.