Privacy Policy

At St John's, we are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information with care, transparency, and in accordance with UK data protection law.

This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, why we collect it, how we use it, and the choices you have regarding your personal information.

Who We Are

St John's Episcopal Church is committed to safeguarding the personal information of everyone who engages with our church, whether in person, online, or through our community activities.

As a church, we process personal data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Information We Collect

Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect information such as:

  • Your name

  • Email address

  • Telephone number

  • Postal address

  • Information you provide through contact forms or enquiries

  • Event or group registrations

  • Donation information (where applicable)

  • Photographs or video taken at public church events

  • Technical information collected through our website, such as cookies and analytics

We only collect personal information that is necessary for the purposes described in this policy.

How We Use Your Information

We may use your information to:

  • Respond to your enquiries

  • Communicate with you about church activities, events, and services

  • Manage pastoral care and church administration

  • Process event registrations or room hire enquiries

  • Manage donations and Gift Aid where applicable

  • Meet our legal or regulatory obligations

  • Improve our website and services

We will only use your information where we have a lawful basis to do so.

Communications

If you choose to receive updates from St John's, we may contact you by email or other appropriate means.

You can unsubscribe from non-essential communications at any time by following the instructions in our emails or by contacting the church office.

Cookies

Our website may use cookies to improve your browsing experience and help us understand how visitors use our website.

Some cookies are essential for the website to function, while others help us improve the site through anonymous analytics.

You can manage or disable cookies through your browser settings.

Sharing Your Information

We do not sell your personal information.

We may share information with trusted service providers who help us operate our church and website, such as:

  • Website hosting providers

  • Email communication platforms

  • Online giving providers

  • Church management systems

  • Professional advisers where required

These organisations only process your information on our behalf and are required to protect it appropriately.

We may also disclose information where required by law.

Keeping Your Information Safe

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information from unauthorised access, loss, misuse, or disclosure.

While no internet transmission is completely secure, we work to ensure your information is handled responsibly.

How Long We Keep Information

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, comply with legal obligations, or maintain appropriate church records.

Retention periods vary depending on the type of information and applicable legal requirements.

Your Rights

Under UK data protection law, you have the right to:

  • Request access to the personal information we hold about you

  • Request correction of inaccurate information

  • Request deletion of your information where appropriate

  • Restrict or object to certain types of processing

  • Request transfer of your data where applicable

  • Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent

Some of these rights are subject to legal limitations.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how your personal information is handled, please contact the church office.

If you are not satisfied with how we have handled your information, you have the right to make a complaint to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in legislation or our practices. Any updates will be published on this page, and the latest version will always apply.