I haven’t done the research but my guess would be that a church wedding even at the (now rejected) higher fee would still be much cheaper than, say, Manchester United Football Ground or a stately home licensed for the occasion. Moreover, the church or even civil wedding costs are usually only a fraction of the overall cost – I ask £250 for the wedding and sometimes find £1000 of flowers being installed in the church and a reception that would be £10-20,000.
As regards funeral fees, take the following as typical:
* at least two visits or meetings with the family – say two hours
* funeral service of one hour, but as any priest will tell you, you do not just turn up on the dot – and usually there is a cemetery interment as well with committal there, so say another two hours
* in addition factor in the sacristan’s work for which we do not charge extra, the heating and light, and finally the maintenance of a historic church – and £135, the existing fee, seems very modest.
As to the question of what Jesus would do, my guess is that he would encourage the family and friends to participate to the maximum in each occasion. And of course, here is the rub: people are either too shy, or lack confidence, or, sadly, are unfamiliar with church, and rely on a clergyperson.
I haven’t done the research but my guess would be that a church wedding even at the (now rejected) higher fee would still be much cheaper than, say, Manchester United Football Ground or a stately home licensed for the occasion. Moreover, the church or even civil wedding costs are usually only a fraction of the overall cost – I ask £250 for the wedding and sometimes find £1000 of flowers being installed in the church and a reception that would be £10-20,000.
As regards funeral fees, take the following as typical:
* at least two visits or meetings with the family – say two hours
* funeral service of one hour, but as any priest will tell you, you do not just turn up on the dot – and usually there is a cemetery interment as well with committal there, so say another two hours
* in addition factor in the sacristan’s work for which we do not charge extra, the heating and light, and finally the maintenance of a historic church – and £135, the existing fee, seems very modest.
As to the question of what Jesus would do, my guess is that he would encourage the family and friends to participate to the maximum in each occasion. And of course, here is the rub: people are either too shy, or lack confidence, or, sadly, are unfamiliar with church, and rely on a clergyperson.