We hope you are keeping well and enjoying the summer holidays!
Here at The Church Office, we are getting ready for our Mind the GAP conferences, taking place in September. If you haven’t booked your ticket yet and would like to join us, make sure you book soon! Ticket sales close on 11th September for Newport, South Wales and 14th September for Liverpool.
This month, we are focusing heavily on Martyn’s Law and what it means for churches.
For those who don’t know, Martyn’s Law, officially known as the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, is designed to strengthen the security of publicly accessible premises and events. The Act was passed in the UK in April 2025 and has a two-year implementation period, with the government's statutory guidance published in April 2026.
Terrorism in the UK has changed significantly over recent decades, and places of worship have not been immune to attacks. Understanding this legislation gives churches the opportunity to consider sensible and proportionate measures that can help protect our church families and everyone who uses our buildings.
We have written an article exploring Martyn’s Law and what it could mean for churches, which we hope will be helpful as you begin to consider what the legislation means for your church.
Understanding Martyn’s Law for Churches
What have we been up to recently?
PODCASTS
DOCUMENT TEMPLATES
We’ve also released a few new resources:
- Sound and Visual Volunteer Description- Here are some templates for your audio, visual and livestreaming team, giving them an idea of what is involved in their specific roles on a Sunday or throughout the week. We hope this serves you.
- Martyn’s Law Risk Assessment and Response Plan- Here is a church risk assessment and response plan which we hope benefits your church as you look at the new legislation and what it means for your church family.
We also have updated a number of our existing documents including:
- Lone Working Policy- A lone working policy helps the church protect its staff. This adaptable policy advises staff members on procedures in place to protect them when they are working on their own.
- Food Hygiene Policy- If you’re looking for some form of Kitchen regulations to set up in your church kitchen, this Food Hygiene Policy is a great place to start. It clearly sets out different kitchen users responsibilities as well as expectations for good kitchen management.
- Grant Making Policy- Grants can be a valuable way to support your community and church family. This policy aims to provide clarity for your trustees and leadership team by setting out the principles and boundaries for making grants.
CONFERENCES:
We are hosting a conference!
Mind the GAP is a one-day conference for church leaders, operations managers, trustees, PCC members and key team members leading in the space between vision and delivery.
Together, we’ll explore what life in the GAP really feels like and how to navigate it well through practical teaching and honest conversations.
We have two locations to choose from:
16th September 2026- Christchurch Centre, Newport (South Conference)
29th September 2026- Cornerstone Church, Liverpool (North Conference)
We pray this conference will serve you and encourage you, and would love to see you in person as we navigate life in the GAP together.
If there are other documents or podcast topics you would find helpful — or if there is anything you would value prayer or support with — please don’t hesitate to contact us at info@thechurchoffice.co.uk.
Grace to you,
Gavin and The Church Office Team
Gavin Smith
Gavin serves as the Church Manager for Christchurch, Newport, a role he has been in for over 20 years. He is passionate about the gospel and strengthening the church by supporting the work that happens behind the scenes.
