Paying Church for inscription on headstone

Pennylane

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BooJewels

Maybe if the headstone was removed, someone from the church had to attend to give access, maybe they had to check the parish records to ensure the right one was taken, maybe the records need updating etc. etc.

I don't know the answer, but it doesn't sound unreasonable to me, as you describe it.  It's only a small percentage compared to the overall cost.  

sheramber

presumably it is a church graveyard so it could be an admin/ service fee. i don't think anybody could just walk in and take away a headstone.

Someone would have to authorise it.

Marcon

Pennylane said:

I just received a bill for approx £450 following my mother’s death some months ago. It is a double grave with my Dad and we had the headstone removed and cleaned and inscribed with my Mum’s details inscribed.  On the bill there is a charge of £29 to the Church. I queried this and was told they had never been asked this before but £15 goes to the PCC and £14 to the diocese.

I still don’t get this as they do absolutely nothing and the extra words do not affect them in any way.  I ordered and paid for it and we already paid for the burial. I am just told it is Church Regulations. 

It's a statutory fee. See above (2020 rates, so an increase of £2 to add an inscription looks entirely reasonable).

Keep_pedalling

Churches cost a lot to run, and fees like this make up a small part of their income. Each parish has to pay a sum of money to the diocese which is why part of the fee goes there.