THE General Synod on Monday approved a draft Order prescribing the fees for the two-year period from the start of January 2024 to the top of December 2025.
Fees are based on the principles of the particular costs involved. The stated policy is that fees have to be reasonably priced, “and never set at a level that implies the Church is attempting to earn a living from its ministry. They must be an affordable contribution towards the prices incurred and there should proceed to be a right of waiver for many who cannot afford them.”
Carl Hughes (Archbishops’ Council) emphasised the importance to parishes of the £40-million income that went to PCCs. It represented 4 per cent of their income, a sum “sufficiently significant to show every parish surplus right into a deficit”. The Synod had agreed in February 2023 that the annual increase in fees must be capped at five per cent, and that mitigation would proceed (Synod digest, 17 February 2023).
The 2024 order would also correct an unintentional anomaly from 2019, which prescribed a better fee for a funeral service in a crematorium or a cemetery not related to a service in church. Mr Hughes reflected on life-events services — 100,000 funerals and greater than 30,000 services of marriage or dedication in 2023 — as a “wonderful opportunity” for clergy, lay ministers, and others to minister to people at key moments of their lives. He later apologised for the “inappropriateness” to this particular debate of his final comment, wherein he declared himself “singularly depressed” that the Synod had been unable to affirm marriage within the Love Matters motion.
Dr John Mason (Chester) approved of the five-per-cent cap, but felt that an asymmetry had been retained: what if inflation happened to be negative?
The Revd Eleanor Robertshaw (Sheffield) said that she was captivated with doing weddings and funerals, but wanted honesty about marriage. Most of the marriages that she conducted were for couples already living together, often with children together: “We’re joyful to do that with nothing said. For some, marriage is amazing, amazing. For some, it isn’t. Can we stop politicising marriage because the only way forward, please?”
Geoff Crawford/Church TimesThe Bishop of Dover, the Rt Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin
The Bishop of Dover, the Rt Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin, could say with certainty of the 1000’s of weddings and funerals that she had conducted since her ordination: “I’ve never, never had anyone complain about the fee. I’ve been capable of use my judgement when it comes to people needing support.” Why did the Church keep tying itself in knots over whom it might marry, she asked. “The cure of souls is all who come . . . by genuinely reaching out to throughout,” she said in exasperation. “Get over it, and get on with it. We are here for all and never only for the individuals who seem like us and speak like us and imagine what we imagine.” Mr Hughes’s remarks had been “unnecessary and disappointing”, she said.
In a maiden speech, Jason Clarke (Chester) spoke of his own experience of his mother’s death and was perplexed concerning the wording of parts of the order which related to burying cremated ashes “immediately after cremation”. How could that be done, he asked. “Can we make this less confusing, please?”
Christiania Olomolaiye (Bristol) said: “Respect marriage in its entirety. Please, please, let’s stick with the Bible here. Let’s not be ashamed to proclaim the Bible.”
Ruth Abernethy (Channel Islands, Guernsey) replied: “We’re here to speak concerning the fees measure. Chair, please bring this debate back on course.”
Mr Hughes said: “I apologise if my comments directed us too distant from parochial fees.”
An amendment was brought by the Revd Christopher Trundle (London), which sought to provide effect, as soon as possible, to the sooner motion approving the transfer of the £34 funerals fee to PCCs. This was carried by a show of hands, as was the motion: That the Draft Parochial Fees Order 2024 be approved.
