Even the Church is not immune to England’s cost-of-living crisis: Church of England clergy have launched a formal demand for a pay rise for the first time in its 500-year history. The Unite union, which represents more than 2,000 priests and lay officials in the Church of England, has demanded a 9.5% rise in clerical stipends to be paid from April 2024.
“The Church of England has millions in the bank,” said Unite general secretary Sharon Graham, highlighting the £10.3 billion investment fund listed in the 2022 annual report.
According to a spokesman for the Church of England, it is aware that its clergy are dealing with the cost-of-living crisis. “We are aware of this and the access issues for dioceses in discussions on annual recommendations for minimum and reference levels of stipends,” the official underlined.
Last year, the church allocated €3.51 million to dioceses to help clergy struggling with rising energy bills. The union wants the national minimum stipend for clergy to rise from £29,340 (around €34,375) to £31,335 (closer to €36,712). “Last year, many clergy were unable to pay the bills and had to turn to charities,” said Sam McGinnis, a member of Clergy and Unite.
“The proposed increase is necessary to bring salaries in line with inflation, while addressing the most pressing difficulties and concerns faced by many clergy and their families,” he said.
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