Parish Fees

This table sets out the fees prescribed by the Parochial Fees Order 2024 (a Statutory Instrument) and summarises other relevant information. For legal purposes reference should be made to the Order itself. . Published by The Archbishops’ Council, Church House, Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3AZ

For further information about fees refer to the Guide to Church of England Parochial Fees and Frequently Asked Questions which are a available on the Church of England website.

Statutory fees are only prescribed for matters in respect of which parishioners have a legal right. Not all services come into this category, for example funerals where there is a period of more than 48 hours between the funeral service and the cremation and between the cremation and the disposal of ashes. This also applies to special services such as memorial services and services of blessing and dedication following a civil marriage. The Archbishops’ Council recommends that, where a memorial service is on a similar scale to a funeral service, or a service of blessing and dedication following a civil marriage or a renewal of marriage vows is on a scale equivalent to a wedding service, the PCC fee should be based on the statutory fee for the service, with the PCC receiving the equivalent of the combined DBF and PCC fee.

The 2024 Order set the framework for fees until the end of 2026. It provided that fees would increase annually in line with CPI, capped at 5%, rounded up to the nearest pound.

TABLE OF PAROCHIAL FEES from 1st January 2025

	Fee payable To Diocesan Board of Finance £	Fee payable To Parochial Church Council £	Total Fee Payable £
BAPTISMS
Certificate issued at time of baptism (See Note A1)	_	19	19
Short certificate of baptism given under section 2, Baptismal Registers Measure 1961	_	19	19
MARRIAGES
Publication of banns of marriage	_	37	37
Certificate of banns issued at time of publication	_	19	19
Marriage Service in church (See Note A3)	247	297	544
FUNERALS of person Aged 18 Years or More (See Note B2
A. Service in Church Funeral service in church, whether taking place before or after cremation (See Note B1)	107	127	234
Burial of body, or burial or other lawful disposal of cremated remains, in cemetery immediately preceding or following on from service in church	35	_	35
Cremation immediately preceding or following on from service in church	35	_	35
Burial of body, or burial or other lawful disposal of cremated remains, in cemetery on separate occasion (See Note B2)	67	19	86
B. No Service in Church Funeral service at crematorium, or funeral service (including burial of body or burial or other lawful disposal of cremated remains) in cemetery	199	35	234
Funeral service in premises belonging to funeral director, whether taking place before or after burial or cremation	234	_	234
Burial of body, or burial or other lawful disposal of cremated remains, in cemetery (committal only)	35	_	35
C. Certificate issued at time of burial (See Note B2)	_	19	19
SEARCHES IN CHURCH REGISTERS
Searching registers of marriages for period before 1 July 1837 (See Note A2) (for up to one hour) -for each subsequent hour or part of an hour	_ _	37 37	37 37
Searching registers of baptism or burials (See Note A2) (including the provision of one copy of any entry therein) for up to one hour for each subsequent hour or part of an hour	_ _	37 37	37 37
Each additional copy of an entry in a register of baptism	_	19	19
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)	_	19	19

EXTRAS

The fees shown in the table do not include charges for heating, the services of a verger, music (e.g. organist, choir), bells, and flowers, which are fixed by the Parochial Church Council. In the case of a marriage service or a funeral service in church, any costs and expenses incurred 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 prescribed as payable to the Parochial Church Council.

NOTES

A1. Certificates of Baptism

The fee for a certificate 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 No 1 in Schedule 1 to the Parochial Registers and Records Measure 1978.The fees payable for a certified copy of the full entry issued at any other time are the fees prescribed for searching registers of baptisms and burials and, if applicable, for each additional copy of an entry in such a register.

A2. Searches in Church Registers

The search fee relates to a particular search where the approximate date of the baptism or marriage is known. The fee for a more general search of a church register is negotiable.

A3. Costs and Expenses

In the case of a marriage service in church, any costs and expenses incurred 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 prescribed as payable to the parochial church council.

B1. Definitions etc.

‘Cemetery’ means any burial ground other than a churchyard.

‘immediately preceding or following on from service in church’ includes the day before and the day after the service in church. See note at the top right of the table.

Where “ –” appears in the table no fee is payable to the body indicated.

B2. Funerals & Burials

No fee is payable in respect of a burial of a still-born infant, or for the funeral or burial of a person dying within eighteen years after birth.
The fee for a burial in a churchyard or cemetery on a separate occasion applies when burial does not take place on the same day as, or on the day before or the day after, a service in church.
The certificate issued at the time of burial is a certified copy of the entry in the register book of burials kept under the Parochial Registers and Records Measure 1978.

B3. Searches in Church Registers

The search fee relates to a particular search where the approximate date of the burial is known. The fee for a more general search of a church register is negotiable.