The Parochial Fees Order 2003

• Citation: S.I. 2003/1932
• Sections: 15

Section 1

The Table of Parochial Fees set forth in Part I of the Schedule to this Order is hereby established and contains particulars of the parochial fees which, subject to the provisions of section 3 of the said Measure, are to be payable to the persons therein named in relation to the respective matters therein specified.

Section 2

Part II of the said Schedule shall apply in relation to the said parochial fees.

Section 3

In the Schedule to this Order, unless the context otherwise requires—

“burial” includes deposit in a vault and the interment or deposit of cremated remains;

“Chancellor” means the judge of the consistory or commissary court of the bishop or archbishop of the diocese;

“incumbent” means the incumbent of any benefice as defined by the Interpretation Measure 1925 ;

“churchyard” includes the curtilage of a church and a burial ground of a church whether or not immediately adjoining such church;

“cemetery” means a burial ground maintained by a burial authority;

“monument” includes a headstone, cross, kerb, border, vase, chain, railing, tablet, plaque, marker, flatstone, tombstone or monument or tomb of any other kind.

Section 4

The Parochial Fees 2002 is hereby revoked.

Section 5

This Order may be cited as the Parochial Fees Order 2003 and shall come into operation on the first day of January 2004.

Section 1 Burial on a separate occasion

In relation to the fee for a burial in a churchyard, “on a separate occasion” means on any occasion other than following on from a service in church, for example, the interment of cremated remains.

Section 2 Burial of infant

No fee is payable in respect of the burial of a still-born infant, or for the funeral or burial of an infant dying with the period of one year after birth.

Section 3 Funeral service

If a full funeral service is held at the graveside, the incumbent’s fee is increased to that payable where the service is held in church.

Section 4 Burial of cremated remains in churches or closed churchyards

Where cremated remains are buried in or under a church or in a closed churchyard, the fees payable to the incumbent and the Parochial Church Council are:

(i) where burial is authorised by a general faculty, the same as those laid down in Part I of this Schedule for burial in a churchyard;

(ii) where burial is authorised by a particular faculty, such sums as may be determined by the Chancellor, who shall specify the person or persons entitled to receive them.

Section 5 Monuments in churchyards

The fees marked (*) include fees for the original inscription.

Where a monument in a churchyard is erected or an additional inscription on a monument is made under the authority of a particular faculty , the fees payable to the incumbent and the Parochial Church Council or either of them shall be such sums as may be determined by the Chancellor who shall specify the person or persons entitled to receive them.

The incumbent’s fee for an additional inscription on a small cross of wood shall not exceed the current fee payable to the incumbent for the erection of such a monument.

Section 6 Monuments in churches

Where a faculty is granted for the erection of a monument in a church or any additional inscription thereon, the fees payable to the incumbent and the Parochial Church Council or either of them shall be determined by the Chancellor who shall specify the person or persons entitled to receive them.

Section 7 The incumbent’s fees

Unless the incumbent has signed a Deed of Assignment in favour of the Diocesan Board of Finance, he/she may direct either generally or in particular cases that all or part of any fee which would otherwise be payable to him/her shall be payable to the minister performing the service or duty.

Section 8 Reservation of grave space: vaults

Payment of any of the fees prescribed by the Table in Part I of this Schedule does not confer any right to construct a new vault or an exclusive right to a grave or vault. Where a faculty is granted conferring rights for a period specified in the faculty, the fees payable to the incumbent and the Parochial Church Council or either of them shall be determined by the Chancellor who shall specify the person or persons entitled to receive them.

Section 9 Searches in Church Registers, etc

The search fee relates to a “particular search” where the approximate date of the baptism, marriage or burial is known. The fee for a more general search of a church register is negotiable with the incumbent and the Parochial Church Council.

Section 10 Services in crematoria and unconsecrated cemeteries

The Church of England (Miscellaneous Provisions) Measure 1992 contains a provision which has the effect of requiring a minister of a parish, if requested, to perform a funeral service for defined parishioners in any appropriate crematorium or unconsecrated cemetery. The fees prescribed by the Table in Part I of this Schedule for such services (which are identical to the fees for services held in consecrated cemeteries) are mandatory except where a local authority or other crematorium authority has fixed charges for these services in which case the authority’s charges will apply.