I AM grateful to Mrs Dale ('Archaic churches', January 14) for the chance to explain the matter of fees paid to Church of England clergy for weddings, funerals and baptisms. The fee charged is declared by the minister concerned, and deducted from his or her stipend (or living allowance).

Thus the fees do not personally benefit the minister, but are added directly to the fund contributed by church members and used to pay the clergy.

Given that neither the personnel nor the buildings of the Church of England are funded by the taxpayer or the Government (other than English Heritage grants awarded on the basis of a building's own merits), it does not seem unreasonable to ask for a contribution to its costs from those such as Mr Enticknap or Mrs Dale, who do not support the church by their prayers or their money, and yet occasionally avail themselves of its care and its open door.

Martin Sheppard,

Communications Officer,

Diocese of York,

Diocesan House,

Clifton Moor,

York.

Updated: 09:47 Monday, January 17, 2005