Parish Policies
Guidance and commitments for our church community within the Church of England
Our parish is committed to being a safe, welcoming, and well-governed church community. These policies outline how we care for one another, manage our responsibilities, and live out our Christian values in practical ways.
Safeguarding Policy
Safeguarding
Our parish is fully committed to the safeguarding, care, and nurture of all people within our church community, especially children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
We follow the House of Bishops’ safeguarding guidance and ensure:
Safe recruitment and training of all staff and volunteers
Clear procedures for reporting safeguarding concerns
Regular safeguarding training and policy review
A culture where everyone feels safe, valued, and listened to
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Our Safeguarding Policy can be found here
Health and Safety Policy
We aim to provide a safe and healthy environment for worship, fellowship, and community activities.
This includes:
Regular risk assessments of buildings and church activities
Fire safety procedures and first aid provision
Proper maintenance of buildings, grounds, and equipment
Safe management of events and services
Our H&S Policy can be found here
Inclusion
St John’s is an inclusive church. We believe everyone is made in the image of God and is welcome here.
We are committed to making our church a place where all people can belong, take part, and be treated with dignity and respect — whatever their age, disability, race, gender, gender identity, sexuality, mental health, neurodiversity, economic situation or background.
Our approach is guided by the Equality Act 2010, safeguarding law and current Church of England guidance.
What this means in practice
• We work to remove barriers that might stop people joining in worship, activities or leadership.
• We aim to make our building, services and information as accessible as possible.
• We welcome assistance dogs, provide large print materials and use hearing support.
• We try to make our worship and church life accessible for people who are neurodivergent or experiencing mental ill health.
• We offer home communion and pastoral visits to those unable to attend church.
• We encourage a culture of listening and learning from different experiences.
• We expect everyone — clergy, staff, volunteers and congregation — to treat others with respect.
• We follow Church of England safeguarding guidance and safer recruitment practices.
• We handle personal information carefully and confidentially.
If something isn’t right
If you feel excluded, uncomfortable, or that this commitment hasn’t been upheld, please speak to the Vicar, a Churchwarden, or a PCC member. We will take concerns seriously.
St John’s wants to be a church where everyone can belong and everyone can participate.
Our Full Inclusion policy can be found here
Data Protection (GDPR)
We handle personal information in accordance with UK GDPR and Church of England guidance.
Personal data is stored securely
Information is used only for legitimate church purposes
Access to data is limited and carefully managed
Individuals have the right to know how their data is used
Our date protection policy is here
Social Media and Communications
We use digital communication responsibly and respectfully.
All online activity connected with our church:
Reflects our Christian values
Follows safeguarding guidance
Respects privacy and confidentiality
Promotes positive and encouraging engagement
Complaints Procedure
We take concerns and complaints seriously and aim to address them fairly, promptly, and transparently.
Anyone wishing to raise a concern may contact a member of the clergy, a Churchwarden, or the Parish Office. Matters will be handled sensitively and appropriately.
Review and Governance
These policies are reviewed annually by the Parochial Church Council (PCC) to ensure they remain up to date and effective.
19/05/2026