Anglican priests turn to trade unions for support

Anglican priests turn to trade unions for support

LONDON — Increasing numbers of priests in the Church of England are turning to trade unions for support, citing the stresses of the job.

Recalling his own days as a parish priest, Justin Welby, archbishop of Canterbury, said he felt more stress in that role than he did in his previous job as an oil executive.

To find counsel and support, priests are joining Unite, one of Britain’s largest unions, which has a specialist faith worker branch. Almost 1,500 priests plus a few rabbis and imams joined the union in 2017 — an increase of 16 percent in 12 months. (RNS)