By Tom Barton
15 Aug, 2002
Page 17
DR ROWAN Williams will find that it isn't only his flock that grows when he leaves Wales to become Archbishop of Canterbury later this year - so will his wallet.
The Archbishop of Wales will receive almost a 100pc payrise in his new role as the spiritual leader of the 70m-strong Anglican congregation worldwide.
This will take his income to almost pounds 60,000 per year, compared to the pounds 33,000 he earns with responsibility for the Welsh flock of just 40,000 churchgoers.
He will also live rent-free in Lambeth Palace, central London, and will be given accommodation in Canterbury's Old Palace - along with access to a car and chauffeur for his official duties.
The church leader's last promotion saw a pay rise of just pounds 2,000, when he moved from his old post of Bishop of Monmouth to being Archbishop of Wales.
By comparison, the Rev Peter Noble, the leader of the United Reformed Church in Wales with a flock of 4,168, earns pounds 17,508 - along with the rent-free use of a house and his travelling expenses.
Meanwhile, the three Catholic bishops in Wales - with a combined congregation of around 40,000 - receive a small personal expenses allowance, although their accommodation and living expenses are met by the church.
Most Church in Wales vicars earn between pounds 16,000 and pounds 17,000, depending on the size of the parish.
A spokesman for the Church in Wales yesterday pointed out that had Rowan Williams continued to follow his glowing academic career he would have earned far more than pounds 60,000.
He added that the Archbishop probably took a pay-cut when he entered the cloth, and like other priests he was putting God's calling before financial considerations.
The leader of Britain's Jewish community, Dr Jonathan Sacks, was last weekend reported to be the Britain's highest-earning religious chief.
Including allowances and pensions, the Chief Rabbi is said to draw in up to pounds 110,000, and is responsible for a congregation of 300,000 - although he is not seen as the religious leader of the Britain's Reform Jews.