And why not?
A parish church made famous by the film Four Weddings and a Funeral is to charge visitors an entrance fee.
Tills have been placed at the entrance of 12th Century Saint Bartholomew the Great, in the City of London, one of the city's oldest churches.
At up to £4 a head, it is thought to be the first parish church in the UK to charge for admissions.
Rector Rev Martin Dudley said revenue from the charge would help pay its running costs and minor repairs.
Rev Dudley said: "What our purpose was that everyone who uses the building contributes to the cost of maintaining the building."
The church has also featured in Shakespeare in Love and The End of the Affair, and in BBC2's Madame Bovary.
People attending services such as Holy Communion, Eucharist and Evesong at St Bart's will not be charged.
While some cathedrals charge for admission to help pay for upkeep, it is believed to be unprecedented for a local parish church to do so.
Tills have been placed at the entrance of 12th Century Saint Bartholomew the Great, in the City of London, one of the city's oldest churches.
At up to £4 a head, it is thought to be the first parish church in the UK to charge for admissions.
Rector Rev Martin Dudley said revenue from the charge would help pay its running costs and minor repairs.
Rev Dudley said: "What our purpose was that everyone who uses the building contributes to the cost of maintaining the building."
The church has also featured in Shakespeare in Love and The End of the Affair, and in BBC2's Madame Bovary.
People attending services such as Holy Communion, Eucharist and Evesong at St Bart's will not be charged.
While some cathedrals charge for admission to help pay for upkeep, it is believed to be unprecedented for a local parish church to do so.
