Huge increase in church wedding fees is defended

A PROMINENT priest has defended controversial price rises which will see the cost of weddings and funerals jump by at least 40 per cent.

Rev Kath Wood, priest-in-charge at Immanuel Church, in Hawthorn Crescent, Stapenhill, spoke to the Mail after the General Synod approved plans which will see a wedding in church cost £415, up from £296— a 40 per cent rise.

The fees for a funeral service will now be £160, up from £102, a 50 per cent increase, with both changes taking effect from January next year.

RevWood said: “First I think it should be stated that this money doesn’t get pocketed by the ministers, it goes into a huge pot at the diocese.

“The money is then shared out, of which some will be spent on upkeep of churches, and other areas.

“A lot of money is needed to keep churches up and running, to keep them up to standard and just keep themgoing.

“I think that the prices rises are comparable when compared with other aspects of a wedding such as the money spent on receptions and dresses.

“People have to remember that the church offers a professional service and some people are often bewildered when they find out they have to pay for having a wedding in a church.

“People spend a lot of money on weddings and I think despite prices being raised, people get a great deal and a host of fabulousmemories.”

The fees will include the costs of lighting and administration for the first time.

Themoves come despite a warning from some members of the Church of England’s governing body, the General Synod, that the rises could have an impact on poorer couples.

The increases were approved after a four per cent rise in the number of Church of England weddings in 2010.

Last year the General Synod rejected plans to increase the price of both weddings and funerals by 50 per cent.

No price rises have been announced for people who are planning to getmarried at a register office or other venue.