(Confidential - For staff use only)
St Mary's Anglican Church, Trafalgar
ALL INFORMATION TO BE UPDATED
Parish Priest:
Rev. Dr Dean Spalding
0421 216 825
dr.d.spalding@gmail.com
Church Secretary:
NAME
Phone
Honourary Deacon:
Rev. Susan Newcombe
Phone
Seating:
115 seated in the Church.
Can fit 5 people per pew plus an extra if a chair is added to the end) in the Church.
The Foyer and Hall can be used for extra seating for large services.
The Church have enough plastic chairs to fill the Hall but we need to take extra seats to fill the foyer if required.
Entrance / Exit:
Main entrance with hearse parked outside in Church driveway.
Hearse is not undercover.
There are no steps to bring the coffin out.
The original Church entrance (facing Church Street) is not used because we usually have seats right up to the doors. We now use the main door facing Contingent Street.
There is a small foyer large enough to set up the memorial book table if it is raining.
Ideally the memorial book and table is placed outside to avoid the congestion.
Door ways are not tall enough for a shoulder carry, if the family chooses to carry out on the shoulder.
Parking:
Family parking is usually reserved in Church Street facing towards Contingent Street.
There is no dedicated car park, all other parking is on the street.
Audio / Visual:
There is an average P.A. system which is only just enough for the Church, we are able to play music through the PA using a Church AUX cable. It is usually safer to set up our own PA system with the option to have another speaker in the Foyer or outside the Church.
If we expect that people will be in the Foyer and Hall we are to hire John Mudie.
The Church have two large television screens, we take our own laptop and connect using the Church HDMI lead.
Catering:
The Church Hall can be used for refreshments (see cost below).
The Church may be able to offer catering, the family can supply their own or we can arrange an external caterer.
Booking for a Funeral
Contact the Minister to discuss and confirm the day/time of funeral.
Other information
We are required to move pews and move them back afterwards. There is quite a lot of setup required at this Church.
Former Ministers
Rev. Sue Jacka was at the Church for about 10 years. She is now the Minister at the Anglican Church in Morwell (since early 2022).
Rev. Marilyn Obersby was at the Church before Sue.
Funeral Notice example TBA
Church Fees:
Clergy Offering
$450
($495)
Church Hire
$150
($165)
Hall for refreshments
Verger
$125
($138)
$100
($110)
Flowers for the Church (optional if provided)
Fresh flowers
$150
($165)
Artificial flowers
$75
($83)
Catering can be arranged by the Church for $10 per head (no GST) for sandwiches, slices, hot food, tea and coffee.
Clergy and Church Hire is paid via direct bank deposit.
Verger to be paid to the individual usually by cheque.
Email from Rev. Dean regarding Fees (22/4/2023)
we spent a considerable amount of time at our April Parish Council Meeting (which is sort of like the meeting of the parish’s “board”) forming an Official Policy for our Parish and Funeral Fees and Charges. We do keep costs to an absolute minimum for families of the congregation. We still have some minimal costs and insurances that we ask the family to cover, and we achieve the substantial discounting by refunding families. Our intent in all of this is to financial bless the family of the deceased.
Transparency about Funeral Fees and Charges.
On 24 December 2022, the Anglican Diocese of Gippsland advocated for a change in the remuneration for ministers officiating at funerals for funeral directors along the following fee schedule:
NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES:
Minister’s fee (“celebrant’s” or “officiant’s” fee): $450 (normally paid to Minister, in the case of Dean Spalding, to his ANZ Account, BSB 013736 Account number 552183888, )
Verger’s fee: $100 (paid to Verger, usually by cheque, unless they have arrangement for direct deposit). If the funeral director elects not to employ a Verger, then the staff of the funeral director must cover as far as possible all the tasks normally completed by the Verger and have these confirmed as complete by the Rector before they leave (after the Rector’s return to the church building from the interment). See Appendix One.
I have also investigated appropriate fees from several other ministers (including Sue Jacka our Archdeacon and former Rector of Trafalgar) to arrive at the following which would be paid to “Anglican Parish of Trafalgar”:
Church worship area hire: $150 (to be paid to “Anglican Parish of Trafalgar”;
BSB 633000 Account No. 152432373)
Hire of hall for serving of refreshments (if required): $125 …and if NOT self-catering, then refreshments prepared and served by Church catering group an additional $10/head (to be paid to “Anglican Parish of Trafalgar”; BSB 633000 Account No. 152432373)
Flowers for the worship area (if required): $150 (fresh); $75 (artificial) (to be paid to “Anglican Parish of Trafalgar”; BSB 633000 Account No. 152432373); if nothing out of the ordinary floral arrangements for Sunday worship is required, then there is no charge.
Pianist (if required): $150 (paid to Pianist, usually by cheque, unless they have arrangement for direct deposit.)
UNDER SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES.
The Anglican Parish of Trafalgar also reserves the discretion to refund any of these charges to the family of the deceased in cases of financial hardship or history of contribution to the Anglican Parish of Trafalgar. Whether “Special Circumstances” apply will be determined by the Rector and the Wardens.
The Parish will still make the normal charges to the funeral director, and ask that ALL charges under the instance of “special circumstances” be paid to “Anglican Parish of Trafalgar”; BSB 633000, Account No. 152432373 (NOT to the Rector).
The refunding to the family will be at the discretion and responsibility of the Rector, according to the following schedule, and if the Church Warden’s determine that SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES apply.
Description
Minister’s Fee
Regular charge under normal circumstances
$450
Discounted amount under special circumstances
$50 (to cover petrol, printing and costs)
Refund paid to family of the deceased
$400
Church worship area hire
Regular charge under normal circumstances
$150
$25 (to cover insurance)
$125
Hire of hall for serving of refreshments (if required)
Regular charge under normal circumstances
$125
Discounted amount under special circumstances
$25 (to cover insurance)
Refund paid to family of the deceased
$100
Refreshments (if required—sandwiches, finger food, slices and tea and coffee)
Regular charge under normal circumstances
$10/head
Discounted amount under special circumstances
Minimal “Cost” to be calculated by Head Caterer, Sue Pye
Original charge minus minimal cost to be refunded.
Flowers for the worship area (if required):
$150 (fresh)
$75 (artificial)
No charge
The church florist will do their best to make sure the floristry of the church looks uplifting.
Discounted amount under special circumstances
Payment neither made, nor refunded.
Pianist (if required)
$150
Discounted amount under special circumstances
Payment neither made, nor refunded.
No charge if audio/video music used instead.
Appendix One: Verger’s duties:
1) Unlock the church for the funeral directors;
2) Sweep the entries to the church (straw broom in maroon cupboard);
3) Turn heaters or air conditioners on as required (remotes in kitchen holder and on top of piano);
4) Light candles including Pascal Candle 15 minutes before the commencement of the service;
5) Ensure the Memorial Candle and terracotta sand container is ready for people to light tapers in memory of the deceased;
6) Remove any distracting objects to the store room/vestry.
7) Spot vacuum before and after service as necessary (but no later than 45 minutes before the commencement of the service);
8) Check toilets for cleanliness and provisions (paper towel, toilet paper) before and after the service—spares in maroon cupboard;
9) During “Message”, count attendees of the service including all staff and clergy, and give the number by text to the Rector (0421216825).
10) After service extinguish candles as soon as congregation has left the church with the brass candle “snuffer”;
11) Clean up any wax spills or candle deformities.
12) Return children’s furniture to children’s areas (4 trapezoidal tables; 12 small coloured chairs);
13) Turn heaters or air conditioners off as soon as congregation has deported from areas of the church;
14) Ensure church is ready for Sunday worship;
15) Restore stored items in the storeroom to their rightful positions;
16) Turn off all lighting from switches in new extension and from outdoor switch board for older church area;
16) Lock up after the departure of the funeral directors, and the return of the Rector from the interment.
If the funeral director chooses not to employ a Verger from our congregation, then these duties will become the funeral directors responsibility, as far as possible (all except the unlocking and locking).