The General Synod has endorsed a proposal to guarantee clergy in the Church of England a minimum of 36 hours of rest per week, aiming to ensure that priests take adequate time away from their duties.

According to The Church of England website, during a meeting in York, Synod members voted in favour of revising church regulations to establish a statutory right to at least 36 hours of rest for clergy office holders, which encompasses the majority of the clergy. This new entitlement also emphasises a continuous 24-hour rest period within that timeframe.

Despite clergy traditionally having the flexibility to manage their schedules for rest, Canon Alison Coulter from the Diocese of Winchester highlighted to the Synod that many are not taking sufficient breaks. The proposed increase from 24 hours aims to encourage more consistent and longer periods of rest each week.

Coulter articulated that the move is not about altering clergy's rights to rest but about reinforcing and drawing attention to the importance of their well-being. "You are a precious resource and have given up much to serve us, so our priority needs to be to care for you," she addressed the clergy.

With the Synod’s approval, draft regulations will be developed and presented for final approval at a future date.

The motion passed with overwhelming support, recording 336 votes in favour, 3 against, and 6 abstentions. It calles on the Archbishops’ Council to propose amendments to the Ecclesiastical Offices (Terms of Service) Regulations 2009, ensuring clergy are entitled to a minimum of 36 hours (a day and a half) of rest every seven days, including an uninterrupted Sabbath rest period of at least 24 hours. The motion also stipulates that this rest period may exclude Sundays or major Church holidays such as Ash Wednesday or Good Friday.