SEARCHES IN REGISTERS, ETC

For the first hour (inclusive of one copy of an entry in certain registers)

For each subsequent hour or part of an hour

Additional copies of entries

Notes:

(1)

The fees listed above are the statutory fees payable.  It is stressed that the figures do not include any charges for extras such as music (e.g. organist, choir), bells, flowers, and special heating, which are fixed by the Parochial Church Council.

(2)

The fee for a marriage certificate is fixed by the Registrar General. It may be increased from 1 April 2008.

(3)

If a cemetery or cremation authority has itself fixed different charges for the minister's services in a cemetery or crematorium such charges will take precedence over those specified here.

(4)

'Monument', here, is a technical term and includes, for example, a gravestone or headstone.

TABLE OF PAROCHIAL FEES

From 1 January 2008

Prepared by the Archbishops’ Council under the Ecclesiastical Fees Measure 1986

Authorised by the Parochial Fees Order 2007

NOTES:

1.        DEFINITIONS

‘Burial’ includes deposit in a vault or brick grave and the interment or deposit of cremated remains.

‘Churchyard’ includes the curtilage of a church and a burial ground of a church whether or not immediately adjoining such church.

(NOTE: This includes any area used for the interment of cremated remains within such a curtilage or burial ground, whether consecrated or not.)

‘Cemetery’ means a burial ground maintained by a burial authority.

‘Monument’ includes headstone, cross, kerb, border, vase, chain, railing, tablet, plaque, marker, flatstone, tombstone or monument or tomb of any other kind.

2.        INCUMBENT’S FEE

Incumbents declare their fees to the Diocese, which takes them into account in determining the stipend paid to the incumbent.

3.        FUNERALS & BURIALS

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

ii) The fees prescribed by this table for a funeral service in any cemetery or crematorium are mandatory except where a cemetery or cremation authority has itself fixed different charges for these services, in which case the authority’s charges apply.

iii) The fee for a burial in a churchyard on a separate occasion applies when burial does not follow on from a service in church.

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

v) The certificate issued at the time of burial is a copy of the entry in the register of burials kept under the Parochial Registers and Records Measure 1978.

4.        MONUMENTS IN CHURCHYARDS

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

5.        SEARCHES IN CHURCH REGISTERS

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 would be negotiable.

6.        FEE FOR MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE

The following fees are currently payable to the incumbent under the Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Fees) Order 2002:  certificate of marriage at registration £3.50; subsequently £7.00.

These fees may be increased from 1 April 2008.

BAPTISMS

Certificate issued at time of baptism

Short certificate of baptism given under section 2, Baptismal Registers Measure 1961

MARRIAGES

Publication of banns of marriage

Certificate of banns issued at time of publication

Marriage Service  (Marriage certificate – See Note 6)

FUNERALS AND BURIALS

Service in Church

Funeral service in church

Burial in churchyard following on from service in church

Burial in cemetery or cremation following on from service in church

(See Note 3(ii))

Burial of body in churchyard on separate occasion (See Note 3(iii))

Burial of cremated remains in churchyard on separate occasion

Burial in cemetery on separate occasion (See Note 3(ii))

No Service in Church

Service in crematorium or cemetery (See Note 3(ii))

Burial of body in churchyard (See Note 3(iv))

Burial of cremated remains in churchyard (See Note 3(iv))

Certificate issued at time of burial (See Note 3(v))

MONUMENTS IN CHURCHYARDS

Permitted in accordance with rules, regulations or directions made by the Chancellor of the diocese, including those relating to a particular churchyard or part of a churchyard (but excluding a monument authorized by a particular faculty, the fee for which is set by the Chancellor)

Small cross of wood

Small vase not exceeding 305mm x 203mm x 203mm (12” x 8” x 8”)

Tablet, plaque or other marker commemorating a person whose remains

have been cremated

Any other monument

   (the above fees to include the original inscription)

Additional inscription on existing monument (See Note 4)

SEARCHES IN CHURCH REGISTERS

Searching registers of marriages for period before 1 July 1837

(See Note 5) (for up to one hour)

   (for each subsequent hour or part of an hour)

Searching registers of baptism or burials (See Note 5) (including the provision of one copy of any entry therein) (for up to one hour)

   (for each subsequent hour or part of an hour)

Each additional copy of an entry in a register of baptism or burials

Inspection of instrument of apportionment or agreement for exchange of land for tithes deposited under the Tithe Act 1836

Furnishing copies of above (for every 72 words)

EXTRAS

The fees shown in this table are the statutory fees payable.  It is stressed that the figures do not include any charges for extras such as music (e.g. organist, choir), bells, flowers, and special heating, which are fixed by the Parochial Church Council.