General Chat

my daughter is getting married in AUG,i was shocked to learn that the fee for the church is £415. I really hAd no idea that it cost so much,infact i cant remember paying a fee for my own wedding(but that was 30yrs ago).

Fairly up-to-date details of how money is spent etc., can be found here.
(It's far more complex than most people realise.)


http://www.churchofengland.org/about-us/facts-stats/funding.aspx



Quite a few things are standardised in the C of E . All Incumbents receive the same stipend as their fellow Incumbent within a Diocese. The Diocesan stipends may vary slightly. They are paid from central funds.

.

An Incumbent does not get paid any extra for the weddings and funerals they conduct. They get the same stipend if they only have one funeral per annum or one hundred.



Constant funerals can by very draining for the clergy. Visiting heartbroken bereaved families; making arrangements with undertakers; organising organists/vergers; finding the right words to say at the right time.



I wonder if the church is the oldest 'scam' in the world....I mean, 2,000 years is one heck of a time for a scam to be kept going isn't it?



I also wonder which site shows the calculation of the church 'not giving anything back to anyone who doesn't give them money'. Whichever site it is, it needs updating.



It's a shame you can't see anything to tell you different Eldrick. Maybe you just aren't looking in the right place............. :-D



Cx

Whos arguing? Not me. Differ away, we still have free speech. Only just when it comes to religion, mind, but it's getting better.

I dont see anything to tell me any different. If its not a scam, why do they always constantly want money and what do you get in return?

Of course its a scam. If any other organisation got tax free status, constantly solicited money and promised something that is totally unprovable with no evidence for it whatsoever, it would get dealt with by the courts. It's appalling that the church - or any religious organisation - is allowed to get away with it.

I beg to differ with your view that the church is the biggest scam in history Eldrick, and I am not going to take part in a huge argument either.

It makes me sick to the core when I hear about how the church profits from things like funerals. And the cost of a plot for a grave, fees for organists, etc. A quick calculation reveals what the church gives back to the community at large. Nothing. Nothing at all, nothing whatsoever in any way shape or form for anyone who doesnt give them money.

Tthey are always whinnying on about wanting money. If the church roof needs repairing, then dip into the coffers and repair it, dont send letters to me begging for money. Every time you go near a church, they want money. Collection plates, donations to this fund, that fund, send a vicar to africa fund, you name it, they want money.

How come everyone, instead of almost everyone, hasn't wised up to the fact the the church is the biggest scam in history?

OH is a C/E treasurer - one of his many roles in the community. I myself have acted as verger at funerals and christenings. The latter are not charged for, as the service is expected to take place during a church service, however if it does not, at present, there is no fee.

I agree up to a point, the Anglican church is hugely wealthy, but the smaller village churches are really, really struggling. Each month money has to sent to the diocese out of the collection. The buildings themselves have to be heated, an organist paid (that is if you are lucky enough to have an organist). I understand that the money the diocese collect is also put into the pot for the clergy pensions. The clergy, let it be said, are sometimes retired and do a full time job in their parishes,

I have no idea of the cost of a cremation only service, perhaps the person to benefit from our demise is the undertaker?

I think that they'll be an overwhelming clamour for non religious services.

And I can't say as I'd shed any tears about that.x

Like I said, god is just not good with money. Everything else - no problem, just can't handle money. Always wants money for something - what does he do with it? gambling? drink? women? - what is it about all these gods that the more poverty stricken their followers the more devout they are and the greater rewards they will get in heaven/paradise/valhalla or whatever other non existent place they are told they will be going?

They can charge what they want as far as I'm concerned, I wouldnt set foot in one of their establishments if I was paid. Costs a fortune to be a christian, which is why I'm sooooo pleased I'm an atheist :-) :-)

I think they were worried about the cost to the poorer parishioners who wanted a marriage and couldn't afford it.

They didn't think it was correct to the parishioners to be means tested in order to waive the fees.

I actually had no idea what the fees for funerals or weddings were, I'm not sure where I stand on this lol

"The General Synod, which is meeting in London this week, agreed to push funeral service fees up from £102 to £160 and wedding ceremony fees from £296 to £415 in an attempt to standardise costs across the country's 16,000 churches. The increase includes lighting and administration, but not heating, and comes into effect next year."

I don't see that the costs need to be standardised? after all there are old churches which are more picturesque for weddings that cost more in maintenance because of their age so increasing the cost seems fair to me

The average spend on weddings is so high these days that perhaps it isn't unreasonable to pay £400 for a service, maybe make a few think about why they are choosing a church wedding, whether it is because of commitment to the idea or just 'a good show' lol.

I think that what with the vast amount of wealth that the various religious, christian, Jewish, Muslim and so on, have at their disposal they should give these services for a nominal fee.
I believe the church of England are very big property and land owners, just smacks of greed.

Foggy

Dear All

Hello

Hope you are okay.

The General Synod, the Church of England's ruling body, has voted to greatly increase fees for weddings and funerals.

What do you think of the increase, particularly for the charge for a funeral service?

Here is the website link about the changes:


http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/07/church-of-england-marriage-funeral

Take gentle care
Very best wishes
EOS
xx