Church of England vicars readily acknowledge that they do not pursue their calling for its material rewards; the average maximum salary for the post is about £20,000 a year and many support families on that.

That wage – known as a stipend – is augmented by tied housing provided free of charge. But at retirement, vicars often need to buy their own home, and about a third of these need to tap the Church’s Charm scheme through which they are provided with means-tested housing.