Keeping your church open

If possible, we recommend keeping your church open because of the positive effect it can have on security.

We support the Church of England Cathedral and Church Buildings Council’s drive for making churches “Always Welcome”. They’ve produced ten top tips as a starting point for encouraging more church visitors.

Open churches must find the right balance between accessibility and security. Taking a few key actions can support your plans:

• Ensure locals know the church is operating an open-door policy so that they can observe activity.
• Encourage local people to pop into the church while passing by.
• Draw up a rota of volunteer stewards to be present in church - but don’t forget to consider their personal safety, for example, if they might be alone in a church at any time.
• Create a secure storage area where all valuables can be locked.

There is no impact on your church’s insurance premium if it is open during daylight hours. Make sure you review security regularly to ensure adequacy.

If you have any concerns, speak with our customer services team on 0345 777 3322.