At the Diocesan Synod meeting in December 2020, it was agreed that PCCs could retain a portion of the fee due in respect of a service at a crematorium or a service at a cemetery when there is no accompanying service in church.
The current fee for these services is £217 and this is shown in the Church of England fee table as being payable entirely to the Diocesan Board of Finance. The decision of the Diocesan Synod means that a PCC within the Diocese of London can now retain £36 of this fee as a PCC fee with the remaining £181 being remitted to the London Diocesan Fund on a quarterly basis as usual. This applies for services which take place on or after 1 March 2023.
When one of these services is taken by a retired cleric, they are entitled to 2/3 of the Diocesan fee element. This will be based on the fee of £181 – i.e. the cleric should be paid £120.67 of the fee with the remaining £60.33 being remitted to the LDF.
If you have any questions, please contact your Area Finance Adviser
