A PILOT project to scrap all fees for church weddings has been endorsed by the General Synod.
A diocesan-synod motion from Blackburn, which originally sought to abolish fees entirely across the Church, was amended on Tuesday to become a time-limited regional trial, after a lively debate on the place of marriage in the Church’s outreach to poorer communities.
The Revd Dr Tom Woolford (Blackburn) introduced his motion with an impassioned and witty speech, noting that, as the father of five girls, he stood to save as much as £3000 should wedding fees be scrapped.
He argued that this “radical act of countercultural generosity” would boost the Church’s mission, besides probably increasing the number of couples coming forward to get married in church. While there was currently provision for fees to be waived in cases of financial hardship, this system could be humiliating for poorer couples, and complex for clergy to navigate.
Following the example of the Roman Catholic Church, a voluntary donation system could be implemented in place of fees, which would, in some cases, actually lead to more money coming in from wealthier couples.
Seeking to attract support from across the Synod, he called on Anglo-Catholics to vote for the motion on sacramental grounds, because it was “odious” to charge for a sacrament; Evangelicals should vote for the motion on “evangelistic grounds”, as it would lead to greater contact with unbelievers.
“Liberals, please vote for this motion on social-justice grounds; Save the Parish, please vote for this motion on parochial grounds.”
Finally, and to much laughter and applause, he addressed the bishops, before admitting he could not think of a particular reason that they should vote for his motion.
The Archdeacon of Blackburn, the Ven. Mark Ireland (Blackburn), then introduced an amendment to replace Mr Woolford’s motion entirely with a narrower project. It would require the Archbishops’ Council to “design, fund and implement a time-limited, regional trial of providing weddings free of all statutory fees”, then report back to the Synod on its impact on wedding numbers, pastoral and missional contacts made, charitable giving, and projected parochial and diocesan finances.
He said that he had previously opposed the abolition of fees on grounds of the cost, but was now convinced that marriage was a “gift of God” which should be offered free to all. A cautious trial could pave the way in exploring whether a donation system could replace much of the lost revenue, before the idea was rolled out across the Church, he argued.
His amendment was subsequently carried.
Many members spoke in favour of scrapping fees, most notably the Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Revd Philip North. He said that, if marriage were a good thing to be offered equally to rich and poor, then “clearly” financial concerns must be secondary. “Our money must be our servant, not our master,” Bishop North said. No fees were levied for baptism, the eucharist, or confirmation, he said; so why choose to make weddings a fund-raiser?
He also decried a supposed campaign of “Project Fear” by some diocesan officials who were worried that such a move would decimate diocesan finances.
This concern was aired by Carl Hughes (Southwark), the newly appointed Chair of the Finance Committee. He said that there was a huge “financial risk” in scrapping fees, and that it was “not overly difficult” for priests to waive fees at present.
Other members, especially clerics, spoke of their sadness that poorer parishioners did not even enquire about getting married because they feared that it would be unaffordable. Citing figures which showed that nine in ten young people hoped to marry, the Revd Lis Goddard (London), bemoaned how the Church could declare marriage to be “God’s gift”, and then immediately say to couples: “Give us your money.”
In a vote by Houses, the amended motion was carried: Bishops 15-4, with two recorded abstentions; Clergy 104-19, with eight recorded abstentions; Laity,118-17, with seven recorded abstentions.