Expert: Rev Steve Parish - 1/9/2011

Question
Is there a law specifying that both the Easter and Christmas takings are given to the priest?  We have done this but there seems to be a problem now.

Answer
Easter offerings were traditionally given to the priest to augment his income, but in the Church of England the minister now receives a fixed amount (to eliminate variations between parishes), and any offerings given at Easter would be deducted from the agreed stipend (so would effectively be a gift to the diocese not the priest).

Roman Catholic churches in England may still have offerings given to the priest at Easter.

I have no knowledge of current practice elsewhere in the Anglican Communion.