FEES
FACULTIES
Parochial Applications
The fees currently payable in respect of Faculty matters are set out in the Ecclesiastical Judges, Legal Officers and Others (Fees) Order 2023.
By special arrangement with the Peterborough Diocesan Board of Finance, the fee payable on lodging a Petition is not payable where the Petitioners are the Minister and/or Churchwardens or the Parochial Church Council (except for private applications).
Private Applications
In the case of a Petition from a private individual (for example, relating to the reservation of a grave space, or the erection of a memorial, or an exhumation), the fee payable from 1 January 2024 when lodging the Petition for a Chancellor's Faculty is £282.00. A cheque should be made payable to the Peterborough Diocesan Board of Finance and sent to the Diocesan Registry with the Petition.
On the granting of a Faculty to authorise the reservation of a grave space, in addition to the fee due on lodging the Petition, the Chancellor normally directs that the applicant pays fees of £40.00 to the Incumbent and £80.00 to the Parochial Church Council. Where a plot for the interment of cremated remains is reserved, the fees are reduced to £20.00 and £40.00 respectively. These fees should be paid direct, rather than sent to the Diocesan Registry. These additional fees and other fees payable in respect of private applications for Faculties are prescribed by a Fees Order made by the Chancellor on 15 June 2000.
Consistory Court Fees
When a Faculty application is contested, and the matter goes before the Consistory Court of the Diocese, additional fees will be payable in respect of the court hearing and the preparation work. Please see Faculties.
PAROCHIAL FEES
The parochial fees payable with effect from 1 March 2023 for Baptisms, Weddings,
Funerals, Burials and Memorials are set out in the following tables:
Parochial Fees - Baptisms and Weddings
Parochial Fees - Funerals and Memorials
The parochial fees payable with effect from 1 January 2024 for Baptisms, Weddings,
Funerals, Burials and Memorials will be as set out in the following tables:
Parochial Fees - Baptisms and Weddings
Parochial Fees - Funerals and Memorials
A Guide to Church of England Parochial Fees was issued in 2014. The Peterborough Diocesan Board of Finance has also issued some Guidance on Parochial Fees. This includes guidance concerning the portion of fees due to the Board of Finance, the payment of fees to retired clergy, charging for "extras", and the waiving of fees.
The Parochial Fees and Scheduled Matters Amending Order 2014 makes provision for automatic increases in parochial fees for the period from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2019. Clergy and PCCs should note that this Order clarifies certain issues, of which the most important are:
- "The fee for a certificate of baptism issued at the time of baptism is for a certified copy of the entry in the register book of baptisms giving the particulars required in Form 1 in Schedule 1 to the Parochial Registers and Records Measure 1978. Also, "The fees payable for a certified copy of an entry in a register book of baptisms issued at any other time are the fees prescribed for searching registers of baptisms or burials and, if applicable, for each additional copy of an entry in a register of baptisms or burials."
- Where there is a marriage service in church or a funeral service in church before or after burial or cremation, "any costs and expenses incurred in relation to that matter in respect of routine administration (including arranging dates and times and the making of entries in registers), making the church available and lighting it are included in the fee presecribed as payable to the parochial church council."
- The fees prescribed for approval of a memorial "include fees in respect of the approval of the inscription by the incumbent."
MARRIAGE LICENCES
The fee payable for a Common Licence (issued by the Diocesan Registrar on behalf of the Bishop) is £200.00. This fee comprises a fee payable to the Surrogate (the person to whom the application is made) and fees payable to the Diocesan Registrar and to the Chancellor. (See the current Fees Order.) The fees due to the Surrogate should be paid as directed by the Surrogate, and the fees due to the Registrar and the Chancellor should be paid in cash or by one cheque payable to Peterborough Diocesan Board of Finance.
The fee payable for a Special Licence (issued by the Faculty Office in Westminster on behalf of the Archbishop of Canterbury) is £325.00 (from 1 August 2018). Once the application has been approved, one of the parties will have to swear an affidavit (a formal statement) to confirm the information given. This can be done in front of an Anglican minister (to whom a fee of £5.00 will be payable) near to where the parties to the proposed marriage reside, or at the Faculty Office (when no extra fee is charged).