The Church of England is planning to give the clergy employment rights for the first time in its history. The new proposals will allow the UK’s vicars and priests to be given secure jobs until retirement, have access to employment tribunals and receive legal protection from unfair dismissal. In addition, they will be entitled to redundancy payments, paid holidays and parental leave.

But despite the gains, church workers would still not enjoy the same rights as the UK’s other full-time workers since they worked without formal employment contracts, said Amicus, the UK’s largest workers’ union.

Traditionally, priests have been regarded as office holders, answerable to God and therefore not in need of protection.

Chris Ball, the national secretary for Amicus, said the proposals were welcome but did not go far enough.