(no subject)
May. 9th, 2011 08:43 pmAsked by ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
kivrin (I'm answering the straightforward question first!)
What's the financial relationship (if any) between the CofE and the government? Do parishes pay taxes? Do parishes get money from the government (either central or local) for regular operating expenses?
The C of E doesn't get government money - although parishes who use historic buildings can and do apply for grants from groups like English Heritage, which is ultimately government money. But there's no 'church tax' system as in Germany or Scandinavia, and even historic church buildings don't automatically get maintained by the state (as I believe they are in France, oddly enough). This is why - although I think it's an abominable custom - so many cathedrals charge for entry; these buildings eat money, even before you get into staff costs.*
Parishes don't pay income tax; they're exempt as charities. There's also a scheme called 'gift aid' whereby charities can claim the tax taxpayers payed on money they donate back from the government (i.e. you can't offset your charitable giving against your income tax, but the charity of your choice gets the benefit of it).
So where does the money come from? These days about 75% comes from donations by churchgoers; the other significant single source is from the assets (shares and land) managed by the Church Commissioners on the C of E's behalf. More information here, should you want more details.
* That said, I think entry charges are theologically deeply dubious, and I'm not convinced it's absolutely necessary. St Albans doesn't charge, and Westminster Cathedral seems to cope.
kivrin (I'm answering the straightforward question first!)What's the financial relationship (if any) between the CofE and the government? Do parishes pay taxes? Do parishes get money from the government (either central or local) for regular operating expenses?
The C of E doesn't get government money - although parishes who use historic buildings can and do apply for grants from groups like English Heritage, which is ultimately government money. But there's no 'church tax' system as in Germany or Scandinavia, and even historic church buildings don't automatically get maintained by the state (as I believe they are in France, oddly enough). This is why - although I think it's an abominable custom - so many cathedrals charge for entry; these buildings eat money, even before you get into staff costs.*
Parishes don't pay income tax; they're exempt as charities. There's also a scheme called 'gift aid' whereby charities can claim the tax taxpayers payed on money they donate back from the government (i.e. you can't offset your charitable giving against your income tax, but the charity of your choice gets the benefit of it).
So where does the money come from? These days about 75% comes from donations by churchgoers; the other significant single source is from the assets (shares and land) managed by the Church Commissioners on the C of E's behalf. More information here, should you want more details.
* That said, I think entry charges are theologically deeply dubious, and I'm not convinced it's absolutely necessary. St Albans doesn't charge, and Westminster Cathedral seems to cope.