“With reducing numbers of stipendiary clergy and fresh patterns of shared ministry the Church relies heavily on Retired Clergy, NSMs, OLMs and Readers. The Church should be seen to promote good practice in ministry and a proper balance between the financial needs of the Church and the principle of the labourer being worthy of hire.
In the light of this, this Diocesan Synod believes that all ministers not in receipt of a full stipend or in full time employment should be entitled to receive two thirds of the Diocesan Board of Finance (DBF) fee for weddings and funerals, undertaken at the request of the incumbent, provided they undertake the associated pastoral visiting and preparation. Fees should be reimbursed at the agreed rate and all claims should be via the DBF on an appropriate claim form and the DBF should develop policies and procedures to enable good practice.” - DS127/05 Parochial Fees, Bolton Deanery Synod Motion, 127 Session Diocesan Synod. 12th Feb 2013
The DBF recognises the importance of all Retired Clergy, Non-Stipendiary Clergy and Readers working across our diocese. To better support this vital ministry, the DBF has updated and amended the guidance and claim forms for claiming a fee from the diocese. This is to modernise the claim processes, removing the reliance on paper documents and increasing the speed of repayments and claims. The guidance below should be used for all services conducted from January 2024. New claim forms will be issued annually with the amounts claimable updated (see table below):
| Type of service | DBF Fee 2025 | Fee to clergy |
| 05 - Marriage service | £247 | £164.67 |
| 06 - Funeral service in church | £127 | £84.67 |
| 07 - Burial in churchyard | £18 | £12 |
| 08 - Burial in cemetery or cremation | £35 | £23.34 |
| 09 - Burial of body in churchyard | £52 | £34.67 |
| 10 - Burial of cremated remains c/yard | £67 | £44.67 |
| 11 - Funeral No Service in Church | £127 | £84.67 |
| 12 - Funeral Service at graveside | £127 | £84.67 |
| 13 - Service at crematorium or cem | £199 | £132.67 |
| 14 - Burial of body in churchyard | £52 | £34.67 |
| 15 - Burial of cremated remains c/yard | £52 | £34.67 |
| 33 - Service funeral director premises | £234 | £156 |
| 34 - Cremation after FD premises | £35 | £23.34 |
| 35 - Burial in cemetary committal only | £35 | £23.34 |
| Casual Duty service fee | N/A | £63.50 |
All forms should be completed electronically and emailed to finance@manchester.anglican.org
Relating only to retired stipendiary clergy.
- Guidance
- 2025 forms
- 2024 forms
Relating to non-stipendiary clergy with licence or PTO, who are not current or retired stipendiary clergy.
- Guidance
- 2025 form
- 2024 form
Relating to both Readers and Readers Emeritus