Ecclesiastical Fees Measure 1986

1986 No. 2

A Measure passed by the General Synod of the Church of England to make further provision with respect to ecclesiastical fees and for purposes connected therewith.

I1

Part I

Parochial Fees

1F15Preparation of Parochial Fees Order

1

The Archbishops' Council may prepare a draft of an order (to be known as a “Parochial Fees Order”) which prescribes, subject to subsection (8), the amount of the parochial fees payable to a parochial church council or to a diocesan board of finance or to both in respect of the matters set out in Schedule A1 where those matters relate to duties carried out by a clerk in holy orders or by a duly licensed deaconess, reader or lay worker.

2

A draft order prepared under subsection (1) may prescribe that no fee shall be payable in respect of any matter that may be specified.

3

A draft order prepared under subsection (1) may contain such incidental matters as the Archbishops' Council shall consider necessary or desirable, which may include provision specifying costs and expenses which are to be included in the prescribed fee in respect of any specified matter.

4

Subject to subsection (5), a draft order prepared under subsection (1) may prescribe fees for a period or periods, not exceeding, in total, a period of 5 years and any increase in fees may be prescribed by specifying that increase or by means of an arithmetical formula or a formula related to a published index of price or earnings increases which is of general application or by means of a combination of both such formulas.

5

If, before the expiry of the period for which fees have been prescribed by a Parochial Fees Order, the Archbishops' Council has not made a further order, or has made a further order which has been annulled in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament, the fees prescribed by the Parochial Fees Order shall continue in force until a further order comes into force.

6

The Archbishops' Council may prepare a draft of an order to amend Schedule A1 by altering, omitting or adding to any of the matters set out, including any note in Part 2 (referred to in this Measure as a “Scheduled Matters Amending Order”).

7

In this section—

  • “parochial church council” means—

    1. a

      where the fee relates to a burial or funeral service taking place in a church or churchyard, the council of the parish where the church or churchyard is situated,

    2. b

      where the fee relates to a burial or funeral service which takes place otherwise than in a church or churchyard, the council of the parish on whose electoral roll the deceased was entered, provided that where the deceased was entered on the electoral roll of more than one parish, the fee shall be shared equally between each of the councils of those parishes,

    3. c

      where the fee relates to a burial or funeral service which takes place otherwise than in a church or churchyard and the deceased was not entered on any electoral roll, the council of the parish where the deceased had his or her usual place of residence, and

    4. d

      in any other case, the council of the parish where the service or other event to which the fee relates takes place;

  • “diocesan board of finance” means—

    1. a

      where the fee relates to a burial or funeral service which takes place in a church or churchyard, the diocesan board of finance of the diocese in which the church or churchyard is situated,

    2. b

      where the fee relates to a burial or funeral service which takes place otherwise than in a church or churchyard, the diocesan board of finance of the diocese within which the deceased was a parishioner, provided that, where the deceased was a parishioner in more than one diocese, the fee shall be shared equally between each of the diocesan boards of finance, and, for this purpose, the parish in question shall be construed in accordance with paragraphs (b) and (c) of the definition of “parochial church council” and “parishioner” shall have effect accordingly, and

    3. c

      in any other case, the diocesan board of finance of the diocese where the service or other event to which the fee relates takes place.

8

Where the relevant parish is a parish of which a cathedral is the parish church any fees which would, apart from this subsection, be payable to the parochial church council or to the diocesan board of finance, shall, instead, be payable to the corporate body of the cathedral.

9

The incumbent or priest in charge of the benefice or, where there is no such person, the rural dean of the deanery, in which the relevant parish or the place where the service or other event takes place is situated, may waive any fee payable to the Diocesan Board of Finance, in a particular case.

10

The incumbent or priest in charge of the benefice or, where there is no such person, the rural dean of the deanery, in which the relevant parish or the place where the service or other event takes place is situated, may, after consulting the churchwardens of that parish, waive any fee payable to the parochial church council of that parish, in a particular case.

11

Any fee payable to the corporate body of a cathedral under subsection (8) may be waived on behalf of that body by the Chapter of the cathedral.

12

This section applies in relation to fees payable under section 5 of the Burial Laws Amendment Act 1880 (43 & 44 Vict. c. 41) as it applies to the fees mentioned in subsection (1).

13

This section shall have effect notwithstanding section 12 of the Cremation Act 1902 (2 Edw. 7 c. 8).

14

Subsection (1) shall apply in relation to banns of matrimony published by a layman under section 9(2) of the Marriage Act 1949 (12, 13 & 14 Geo. 6 c. 76) as it applies in relation to banns of matrimony published by a clerk in holy orders.

15

Subsection (1) shall apply in relation to searches allowed to be made in a register book of baptisms or burials and to the giving of certified copies of entries in such a book by a churchwarden under section 20(1) of the Parochial Registers and Records Measure 1978 (1978 No. 2) as it applies in relation to searches allowed and copies of entries given by an incumbent or priest in charge.

C12 Procedure for making Parochial Fees Orders.

1

Every draft Parochial Fees Order F19or Scheduled Matters Amending Order shall be laid before the General Synod and if it is approved by the General Synod, whether with or without amendment, the draft order as so approved shall be referred to the F1Archbishops’ Council..

2

Where a draft order is referred to the F1Archbishops’ Council. under subsection (1) above then—

a

if it has been approved by the General Synod without amendment, the F1Archbishops’ Council. shall, by applying their seal, make the order;

b

if it has been approved by the General Synod with amendment, the F1Archbishops’ Council. may either—

i

by applying their seal make the order as so amended, or

ii

withdraw the draft order for further consideration in view of any amendment made by the General Synod;

and a Parochial Fees Order F19or Scheduled Matters Amending Order shall not come into force until it has been sealed by the F1Archbishops’ Council..

C23

Where the Standing Committee of the General Synod determines that a draft Parochial Fees Order F19or Scheduled Matters Amending Order does not need to be debated by the General Synod, then, unless—

a

notice is given by a member of the General Synod in accordance with its Standing Orders that he wishes the draft order to be debated, or

b

notice is so given by any such member that he wishes to move an amendment to the draft order F2. . .,

the draft order shall for the purposes of subsections (1) and (2) above be deemed to have been approved by the General Synod without amendment.

4

The M1Statutory Instruments Act 1946 shall apply to a Parochial Fees Order F19or Scheduled Matters Amending Order sealed by the F1Archbishops’ Council. under subsection (2) above as if it were a statutory instrument and were made when sealed by the Commissioners and as if this Measure were an Act providing that any such order shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

F203 Provisions as to persons to whom parochial fees are to be paid.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Part II

Part III

Miscellaneous and General

7 Recovery of fees.

Any fee payable by virtue of any order made under this Measure shall be recoverable as a debt.

8 Reimbursement of archbishops or bishops.

Where an archbishop or bishop has paid any sum by virtue of any order made or deemed to be made under this Measure and the liability to pay that sum was imposed on him as archbishop or bishop, the Church Commissioners shall reimburse that sum to the archbishop or bishop.

9 Private, local and personal Acts which are inconsistent with Parochial Fees Orders.

Schedule 1 to this Measure which relates to private, local and personal Acts which are inconsistent with a Parochial Fees Order shall have effect.

10 Interpretation.

In this Measure the following expressions have the meanings hereby respectively assigned to them—

  • F16 “church” means a parish church, a place licensed for public worship by the bishop under section 29(1) or a building designated as a parish centre of worship by the bishop under section 29(2) of the Pastoral Measure 1983 (1983 No. 1) and, in relation to marriage only, a public chapel licensed for the solemnization of marriages under section 20 of the Marriage Act 1949 or an authorised chapel within the meaning of section 78(1)(a) of that Act, provided that the marriage takes place in accordance with the licence or as mentioned in section 78(1)(a), as the case may be, but does not include any church or chapel in or belonging to any extra-parochial place which is licensed by the bishop under section 21 of that Act and “ churchyard ” shall be construed accordingly;

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

  • “ecclesiastical judges” means the Dean of the Court of Arches and the Auditor of the Chancery Court of York, the Vicars General of the provinces of Canterbury and York, the Commissary GeneralF12, the president and deputy president of tribunals F24and the chairmen of disciplinary tribunals for the purposes of the Clergy Discipline Measure 2003 and Diocesan ChancellorsF10, and the deputies of any of them;

  • “legal officers” means the provincial registrars,F13the registrar of tribunals for the purposes of the Clergy Discipline Measure 2003, diocesan registrars, bishops’ legal secretaries and chapter clerks F11, and the deputy provincial and diocesan registrars;

  • F17...

  • F18 “ parochial fees ” means any fees prescribed in respect of any of the matters set out in Schedule A1.

11 Repeals, consequential amendments and transitional provisions.

1

The M4Ecclesiastical Fees Measure 1962 is hereby repealed.

2

In section 63 of the M5Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Measure 1963 for the words from “Ecclesiastical Fees” to the end of the section there shall be substituted the words “Ecclesiastical Fees Measure 1986” and in section 6(3) of the M6Faculty Jurisdiction Measure 1964 for the words “Ecclesiastical Fees Measure 1962” there shall be substituted the words “Ecclesiastical Fees Measure 1986”.

3

The transitional provisions in Schedule 2 to this Measure shall have effect.

12 Short title, extent and commencement.

1

This Measure may be cited as the Ecclesiastical Fees Measure 1986.

2

This Measure shall extend to the whole of the provinces of Canterbury and York except the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, but may be applied to the Channel Islands, as defined by the M7Channel Islands (Church Legislation) Measures 1931 M8 and 1957, or either of them, in accordance with the provisions of those measures and may be extended to the Isle of Man by or under Act of Tynwald.

C53

This Measure shall come into force on such day as the Archbishops of Canterbury and York may jointly appoint and different days may be so appointed for different provisions.

Annotations:
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C5

Power of appointment conferred by s. 12(3) fully exercised: 1.9.1986 appointed by Instrument dated 24.7.1986

Marginal Citations

SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 1 Private, Local and Personal Acts which are Inconsistent with Parochial Fees Orders

1

Where a Parochial Fees Order is inconsistent with a private, local or personal Act which affects a parish, the parochial church council or, if there is no parochial church council, the incumbent or minister may apply to the Church Commissioners requesting them to prepare an order providing for the amendment or repeal of that Act in order to permit the Parochial Fees Order to apply to the parish; and, on receiving such an application, the Church Commissioners may prepare a draft order accordingly.

2

Where the Church Commissioners prepare a draft order under paragraph 1 above, they shall—

a

send a copy of that order to the bishop of the diocese in which the parish is situated, the parochial church council (if any) and the incumbent or minister of the parish, and any person whose power of fixing fees or whose right to receive fees is affected by the order, together with a notice that consideration will be given to any representations sent in writing to them before such date (which shall not be less than one month from the date of the sending of the notice) as may be specified in the notice; and

b

cause a copy of the order to be posted for a period of not less than one month on or near the principal door of the church of the parish, or at least one of such churches if there be more than one, together with a notice that consideration will be given to any representations sent in writing to them before such date (which shall not be less than one month from the date when the copy of the order was first posted), as may be specified in the notice; and

c

publish an advertisement in at least one local newspaper circulating in the parish stating the purport of the draft order and at what place in the parish it may be inspected (which may be on or near the church door mentioned in sub-paragraph (b) above or such other place as the Church Commissioners may decide) and that consideration will be given to any representations sent in writing to them before such date (which shall not be less than one month from the date when the advertisement was published) as may be specified in the advertisement.

3

The Church Commissioners shall consider all representations made to them under paragraph 2 above and may make such amendments in the order as they think fit.

4

When the periods during which representations may be made under paragraph 2 above have all expired and the Church Commissioners have considered all representations made to them, they may, by applying their seal, make the order or, as the case may be, the order as amended under paragraph 3 above.

5

The M9Statutory Instruments Act 1946 shall apply to an order sealed by the Church Commissioners under paragraph 4 above as if it were a statutory instrument and were made when sealed by the Commissioners and as if this Measure were an Act providing that the order shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

6

The Church Commissioners shall send copies of any order made under this Schedule to every person or body specified in subparagraph 2(a) above and shall publish in the London Gazette a notice stating they have made the order and specifying a place where copies of the order may be obtained.

F14SCHEDULE A1

Annotations:
Amendments (Textual)

PART 1TABLE OF MATTERS TO WHICH PAROCHIAL FEES RELATE

  • BAPTISMS

  • Certificate issued at time of baptism

  • Short certificate of baptism given under Section 2 of the Baptismal Registers Measure 1961 (9 & 10 Eliz. 2 No. 2))

  • MARRIAGES

  • Publication of banns of marriage

  • Certificate of banns issued at time of publication

  • Marriage service in church

  • F23...

  • F23...

  • FUNERALS AND BURIALS OF PERSONS AGED 16 YEARS OR MORE

    • A. Service in church

    • Funeral service in church, whether taking place before or after burial or cremation

    • Burial in churchyard immediately preceding or following on from service in church

    • Burial in cemetery immediately preceding or following on from service in church

    • Cremation immediately preceding or following on from service in church

    • Burial of body in churchyard on separate occasion

    • Burial of cremated remains in churchyard or other lawful disposal of remains on separate occasion

    • Burial in cemetery on separate occasion

    • F23...

    • B. No service in church

    • Service at graveside

    • Service in crematorium or cemetery

    • Burial of body in churchyard

    • Burial of cremated remains in churchyard or other lawful disposal of remains

    • C. Certificate issued at time of burial

  • MONUMENTS IN CHURCHYARDS

  • Permitted in accordance with rules, regulations or directions made by the Chancellor including those relating to a particular churchyard or part of a churchyard (but excluding a monument authorised by a particular faculty) including inscription on existing monument

  • SEARCHES IN CHURCH REGISTERS ETC

  • Searching registers of marriages for period before 1st July 1837—

    • (for up to 1 hour)

    • (for each subsequent hour or part of an hour)

    Searching registers of baptisms or burials (including provision of one copy of any entry)

    • (for up to 1 hour)

    • (for each subsequent hour or part of an hour)

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

  • Inspection of instrument of apportionment or agreement for exchange of land for tithes deposited under the Tithe Act 1836 (6 & 7 Will. 4 c. 71)

  • Furnishing copies of above (for every 72 words)

PART 2EXPLANATORY NOTES ON PART 1

Burial on a separate occasion

1

In relation to the fee for a burial in a churchyard, “ on separate occasion ” means on any occasion other than immediately preceding or following on from a service in church and “ immediately preceding ” includes the day before the day on which the service, burial or cremation takes place and “ following on ” includes the day after the service, burial or cremation takes place.

Burial of infant

2

No fee is payable in respect of the funeral or burial of a still-born infant, or for the funeral or burial of a child dying before attaining the age of 16 years.

Burial of cremated remains in churches or closed churchyards

3

Where cremated remains are buried in or under a church or in a closed churchyard, the fees payable to the parochial church council and the diocesan board of finance or either of them are—

a

where burial is authorised by a general faculty, the fee prescribed for burial in a churchyard;

b

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.

Monuments in churchyards

4

Different fees may be prescribed for different types of monument and a separate fee may be prescribed for inscription on a monument.

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 parochial church council and the diocesan board of finance 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.

Searches in Church Registers, etc.

5

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 parochial church council and the diocesan board of finance.

Definitions

6

In this Schedule—

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

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

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

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

  • “ prescribed ” means prescribed by a Parochial Fees Order.

SCHEDULE 2 Transitional Provisions

1

No order made under Part I of this Measure shall be binding on a clerk in Holy Orders or other person performing duties in connection with a parish to whom the provisions of section 2(4) of the M10Ecclesiastical Fees Measure 1962 applied immediately before the coming into force of this provision without his consent in writing; but such consent when given shall be irrevocable.

2

Until the Fees Advisory Commission is constituted under this Measure, the members of the Fees Committee appointed under section 1(3) of the Ecclesiastical Fees Measure 1962 shall, notwithstanding the repeal of that Measure by this Measure, continue to hold office and may perform any of the functions of the Fees Advisory Commission under this Measure.

3

Notwithstanding the repeal by this Measure of the Ecclesiastical Fees Measure 1962, any order made under that Measure relating to legal officers’ fees or parochial fees shall be deemed to have been made under this Measure; and any fee payable at the coming into force of this Measure under an existing order relating to legal officers’ fees or parochial fees shall be deemed to be payable under this Measure.

4

Any sum payable to any person under the provisions of section 5 of the Ecclesiastical Fees Measure 1962 shall, if reimbursible by the Church Commissioners at the coming into force of this provision, be deemed to be reimbursible under this Measure.

5

Nothing in this Schedule shall be taken as prejudicing the application of sections 16 and 17 of the M11Interpretation Act 1978.