LONDON, June 19 (Reuters) - Even the clergy are not immune from Britain's cost-of-living crisis, which has now forced Church of England vicars to make a formal pay claim for the first time in their nearly 500-year history.
A Church of England spokesperson said it was aware that its clergy were dealing with a cost-of-living crisis.
The Church last year set aside 3 million pounds for dioceses to make grants to help clergy struggling with the rising energy bills.
Unite proposed the clergy's national minimum stipend rise to 29,340 pounds ($37,600) and the national stipend benchmark be increased to 31,335 pounds, it said.
"Last year many clergy had to turn to charitable aid because they couldn't make ends meet," said Sam Maginnis, a member of the clergy and Unite.
Persons:
Sharon Graham, Sam Maginnis, Sachin Ravikumar, Angus MacSwan
Organizations:
of, of England, Archbishop's Council, Thomson
Locations:
of England