Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Ann Cryer (Labour). It was answered on Thursday, 26 November 2009 on behalf of the Church Commissioners.

Stipendiary Priests

Question: I thank my hon. Friend for the information regarding stipendiary and non-stipendiary priests. Does he have a precise figure for how many non-stipendiary priests there are in the Church of England—and may I pay tribute to them? My second late husband, John Hammersley, spent his last four years of working as a Church of England vicar in the Oxford diocese training and preparing for ordination as a non-stipendiary priest, and he was terribly impressed by their abilities.

Answer: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for referring to the good work that the non-stipendiaries do and how much that work is appreciated in the Church. In response also to the earlier question from the hon. Member for South Staffordshire (Sir Patrick Cormack), the clergy work load is always under review and it is part of the bishops' pastoral care for the clergy. My hon. Friend's point is very well made.

Secondary information