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Pew Sheet 10/12/23

Prayers For

Readings

Parish News

A Warm Welcome to worship at St. Peter’s. Our purpose is to reach out within the community, worshipping Christ and welcoming all.

Services & Worship This Week

Sunday 10th December – The Second Sunday of Advent
  • 8.00am – Service of Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
  • 9.30am – Sunday Praise with Nativity Play
Wednesday 13th December – Lucy, martyr, 304
  • 10.00am – Parish Eucharist
  • 11.00am – Hour of Prayer
  • 2.00pm – Pastoral Care Team Meeting at 75 Gladstone Road, Broadstairs, CT10 2JA
Thursday 14th December
  • 10.00am – St Peter’s School Christmas Service in Church
Sunday 17th December – The Third Sunday of Advent
  • 9.30am – Parish Eucharist (Common Worship)
  • 4.00pm – Nine Lessons and Carols.  The collection will be divided equally between St Peter’s Church and UNICEF.
Prayer for the Lighting of the Second Candle on the Advent Ring Dear Lord, God of Abraham and Sarah, of prophets and pilgrims, as we light this next candle upon our Advent Ring, we give you thanks for your everlasting love: in the name of Jesus Christ, who is the Light of the World.  Amen. The Collect for The Second Sunday of Advent O Lord, raise up, we pray, your power and come among us, and with great might succour us; that whereas, through our sins and wickedness we are grievously hindered in running the race that is set before us, your bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, to whom with you and the Holy Spirit, be honour and glory, now and for ever.  Amen.

Please pray for

Prayers for healing
Svend Andersen, Mary Bridges, Gordon Burley, Bill Hammond, Brian Heard, Pam Nye, Julie Pritchard, Mary Richardson, Jim Shoobridge and his wife and family, Alexander Tate, Margaret Tate, David Treacy, Freda Tudor, Melanie Underwood, Creina Williams, Heather Wood, Peter Wootton.

Those who have died recently
John Hubbard, Peggy Taylor ….and all those relatives and friends who are mourning the loss of their loved ones.

Reading 1

Isaiah 40.1-11
Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins. A voice cries out: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.’ A voice says, ‘Cry out!’ And I said, ‘What shall I cry?’ All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the LORD blows upon it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand for ever. Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, ‘Here is your God!’ See, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.

Reading 2

2 Peter 3.8-15a
But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed. Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home. Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation.

Reading 3

Mark 1.1-8
The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight” ’, John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, ‘The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

PARISH NEWS

Dear Everybody, we would like to thank you all for the contribution that you made to making the Festive Fayre such a success.  The total raised was an amazing sum of £4,468.48.  It was such a lovely occasion enabling everyone to work closely together and engage with the local community.  None of this could have happened without your input and the kindness of people who brought goods to sell.

One final, personal, comment about this year’s Festive Fayre.  I would like to thank everyone who took part – stallholders, those who ran the cafes, those who stood in the foyer (in the cold) to welcome people, the people running the Parish Office, those who helped with the setting up/taking down of the tables and goods for sale, those who undertook ‘tip runs’ to get rid of the rubbish at the end and, of course, Santa in his Grotto and his ‘elves’.  Without all your help, the Festive Fayre simply wouldn’t have worked or become the huge success that it was.  I was unwell and couldn’t help much this year, but everyone else really went ‘above and beyond’ and for that you have my heartfelt thanks.  The Festive Fayre represents the last Fundraising event for this calendar year and it has been a very successful year for us all.  Let’s hope that 2024 can be as good or, perhaps, even better.   Roy Brown.

The first event for 2024 will be a Boot Fair, which will take place on Saturday 13th January 2024.  Tables are £10.00 each so if anyone knows anyone who would like to hire one,  please point them in our direction.  They can be booked via the Parish Office at the address below.

We look forward to seeing you all at the Summer Fête on 29th June 2024!To Book – Tickets, etc. for fundraising events can be purchased via the Parish Office, Hopeville Avenue between 9.30am – 12.30pm weekdays.  You can also either ring to book – (01843) 866061 or email parishoffice@stpeterinthanet.org.uk Roy Brown, Fundraising Team.

Advent Prayers and Resources – Advent is a good time for us to rejoin together as a Church community and pray as one.  We have produced a form of Daily Prayer which can be used for a short quiet time at some point during your day.  We encourage you to take one home with you and use it as we journey through Advent towards Christmas.  There are also a small number of Advent themed books available to borrow.  Please help yourself and return them in the New Year.

The Christmas Tree Festival took place from midday on Friday 8th December and from 10.00am on Saturday 9th December with trees remaining on display at the usual services on Sunday 10th December.  The theme this year is “Joy to the World”.  For further information, please contact Sue Brooks by emailing s.brooks231@btinternet.com or by calling (01843) 604700.

The Licensing Service of Rev’d Jeffrey Foulger as Priest in Charge of St Saviour’s Westgate-on-Sea and of the Wantsum Benefice will be at St Mary the Virgin, Minster on Sunday 10th December at 2.30pm  All are warmly invited to attend.

St Peter’s Toddler Group finishes for the Christmas break on Thursday 14th December (Christmas Party ticket only event) and will be returning on Thursday 4th January 2024.  The sessions run on Thursday mornings in the Main Hall.

CHOIR SOS: We are once again inviting you to join us for our annual Festive singing.  We need altos and tenors in particular.

  • Rehearsals 7.00-8.00pm on 15th December (Run-through).
  • Events: Sunday 17th December – 4.00pm – Carol Service.

Calling All Cake Makers – Children’s Church needs your help.  We would like a variety of cakes for an event on Saturday 23rd December.  Donations of cake can be left in the Parish Office on Friday 22nd December or brought to the Main Hall from 1.30pm to 2.30pm on Saturday 23rd December.  (Please list ingredients and place with cake.)  Thank you.

Please note that there is no Children’s Church in January but there will be a Sunday Praise Service on Sunday 14th January 2024 celebrating The Baptism of Christ.

Garden of Remembrance – You may not be aware that we now have a shed close to the Church to keep tools etc. in so I don’t need to bring down my own every time I do work in the Garden of Remembrance.  We now need to stock it with the necessary gardening equipment.  Heather Wood, very kindly, donated several items following her recent move but others are still needed.  So, I was wondering if anyone had the following spare items: wheelbarrow, hand trowel, fork, secateurs, shears, lopper, dustpan and brush.  If you do then please let me know or give me, Don Bumpstead, a ring on (01843) 602287.  Thank you.

Thanet Food Link – Thank you so much for all those who give so generously to this food bank.  Due to rising demand, they are desperately in need of tinned meals, pasta sauce, hot dogs (jars or tins), cereal bars.  A few Christmas treats would also be welcomed.  Items can be left in Church on a Sunday 9.30am – 11.00am or Wednesday morning 10.00am – 12 noon.  Please would you bring donations of food into Church and not leave them in the South Porch.  The baskets are in Church on the pews behind the information shelf, on the South side.  This has become necessary because of recent thefts.  Thank you.  Sylvia Mills.

Rough Sleeping; The Homeless  –  Thank you for the many wonderful donations.  With the colder weather having arrived, I am collecting for the rough sleepers.  There is a box in the Church Porch.  I will take your gifts to The Salvation Army in Ramsgate.  Please donate gloves, hats and thick socks.  The Salvation Army takes hot soup, food and clothing to rough sleepers and also offers breakfast in its building in Ramsgate.  (If you are concerned for someone who is sleeping rough you can report the circumstances to thestreetlink.org.uk/start ).  Thank you for your help.  June Binfield.

The first Canterbury COP (Conference of the Parishes) event was held recently at Canterbury Cathedral Lodge during which speakers and guests discussed what can be done within the Diocese of Canterbury to combat climate change.  With speakers talking on a range of issues, the event was also an opportunity for young people to share their thoughts on environmental issues.  Find out more by following the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3Gqx-_3zTw  If you want to know more and become involved in what we are doing at St Peter’s, contact Rev’d David Tate ((01843) 447861) who also acts as ECO Champion for Thanet Deanery.  We want to lead the way and have achieved a Silver Award for what St Peter’s does and teaches in response to climate change and protecting God’s creation.  Climate change is not going away.

St Peter’s Old Boys and Community Association – Don’t know what to do with your postage stamps?  Why not bring them in to us.  We are collecting for the RNIB.  (These can be brought into the Parish Office or left in post box outside.)  Many thanks for your support.  St Peter’s Old Boys.

Missing – Can you help to be the ears and eyes of our Church family?  Do you care about those around you?  If the answer is yes, then next time you’re in Church look around you.  If a familiar face has been missing for some weeks do something about it – make enquiries, make a phone call, mention it to someone.  THIS IS NOT BEING NOSEY but showing concern for our Church family.  Next time it could be you missing from that pew – WOULD ANYONE CARE?

Photographs – Please do not take photos during the service.  If you want to take them after the service has finished, please ensure you only take a picture of your own child or family member.  Please obtain permission from anyone else before you take their photo.  Thank you.

To check your eligibility and apply for a Canterbury Cathedral Pass, see https://www.canterbury-cathedral.org/visit/the-cathedral-pass/

Morning Prayer is held via Zoom on Monday mornings at 9.15am and in Church (in St James’s Chapel) on Wednesday mornings at 9.15am.  Please enter the Church through the 1832 door.  For the Zoom link, please contact Rev’d Alice at revalice@stpeterinthanet.org.uk and she will email you the link.

The Monday Home Group meets weekly at 2.30pm at 92 Dumpton Park Drive, Broadstairs, CT10 1RL, and during Advent we continue a 4-week series looking each time at a different topic (Hope, Peace, Joy and Love) from one of Advent’s great sets of cycles for reflection.  Our theme this Monday 11th December is ‘Joy’,and we shall draw on Bible texts, music, poetry, …  Please do think of joining us, even as a one-off – each session is a stand-alone, and lasts 90 minutes – always finishing with prayer, a cuppa and fellowship!  More details (and/or if you’d like a lift) from Michael and Elspeth Cooke on (01843) 863293.

‘Hour of Prayer’ in Church on Wednesdays 11.00am – 12 Noon – A non-led opportunity to sit quietly with God, to light a candle if you would like to, and – if you feel God has said something to you which you’d like to share – to write that down for others to pray over.  Come for as long or as short a time as you like, and be renewed and refreshed by God.  Any questions, please contact Rev’d Alice on revalice@stpeterinthanet.org.uk and do come if you can!

The Wednesday Home Group will be meeting in Advent on 13th and 20th December at 2.30pm at 21 Fig Tree Road, Broadstairs, CT10 3AQ.  We will be looking at aspects of God’s plan from the Creation to the Resurrection.  You are all welcome to come to any or all of these meetings.  Please bring a Bible.  We read passages from the Bible and share insights and discussion and end with a cup of tea and fellowship.  For more information or if you need a lift, please contact junebinfield@outlook.com or (01843) 861286 or 07711 072233.

Donations

We are now able to accept debit/credit card donations. If you are a taxpayer and can Gift Aid your donation, please complete a yellow envelope, in church, with your details and hand this to the person operating the card reader or contact the Parish Office for more information. Thank you!

PREVIOUS PEW SHEETS

CONTACT US

Parish Office in Main Hall
Tel: (01843) 866061

Hopeville Avenue,
St Peter-in-Thanet,
CT10 2TR

Open Monday to Friday
9.30am – 12.30pm.

(Please note the revised opening hours.)

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Hall Hirers Terms and Conditions

ST. PETER IN THANET COMMUNITY HALLS HIRE TERMS AND CONDITIONS

(Reviewed May 2023)

All hall bookings are carried out via our website, www.stpeterinthanet.org.uk either by the Hirer direct or with the help of the Parish Administrator. Hirers can only use the halls during the hours agreed, and equipment, furnishings, kitchen hire must also be arranged in advance. See Kitchen Rules Appendix for full details. There is a small charge for the use of the Main Hall kitchen(see website) and this will be added for one-off bookings. Hirers must sign our on-line declaration to confirm that they have read and will abide by our Ts and Cs and GDPR protocols and the special rules relating to the kitchen, and ensuring they notify their members/volunteers/guests of these Terms and Conditions, including the fees and charges for any loss/damage/Rubbish left/ breakages/ however caused, cancellation charges, lost keys, deposits etc in our terms, and conditions.

Our bookings are subject to approval by the halls committee.

Hirers are responsible for setting up and clearing their furniture within the hired times agreed and ensure that any furniture/equipment used is replaced in the correct places and is clean.

  • Security bars must be removed from Fire Exit before the meeting/event starts.
  • In the Main Hall, hirers can find extra chairs behind the screens at the back of the stage. We ask that furniture is not dragged across the floor. 
  • We advise that tables are lifted into position using two people. 
  • The use of chalk/powder on the floor is strictly forbidden. 
  • Hirers should mop up any form of liquid immediately and display the wet floor sign. * The Halls have brooms/mops/dustpans/brushes available for use.
  • If necessary, Hirers should sweep the floor and clean the tables.
  • Please do not move furniture from the entrance foyer.

When leaving the building, the Hirer has a responsibility to ensure:

  • All lighting, ventilation, and kitchen equipment is switched off and left safe; turn off water taps in the kitchen/toilets. Turn down radiator settings to original setting if they have been adjusted.
  • Security bars to be replaced across the emergency exits.
  • All external doors are locked, including windows and fire-doors, and check that no one is left in the building including toilet areas. N.B. In the main hall, if the office is open during weekday mornings, locking up instructions should be queried with the Parish Administrator

Care

The Hirer shall undertake to take reasonable care when hiring our halls, especially regarding fixtures and fittings, the floors, tables and chairs, etc. No fixings shall be driven into any part of the buildings, if decorations are used, please do not use tape. We reserve the right to recover the cost of any loss, damages, breakages and repairs, or non-compliance of our terms and conditions from the Hirer and invoice the Hirer and expect payment within seven days. 

All rubbish is to be removed from the premises.

Please keep main doors closed, and locked where possible.

Disco Equipment/Music

  • The use of disco equipment for private functions is strictly restricted to between 9am and 10.30pm and is only allowed in the Main Hall
  • We ask that the use of such equipment be kept to as low a volume as possible to avoid a noise nuisance to our neighbouring residences.
  • At 10.30 pm all music should cease or if an extension has been granted kept at a minimum level as it should be a quiet/clearing up time.
  • At the end of hire, all individuals should be asked to leave the building quietly to save disturbing the residents. 

Bouncy Castles

  • If a Bouncy Castle is being booked for a children’s party, a small surcharge will be applied(see website). It can only be used in the Main Hall and must only be assembled at the Non-Stage end of the hall because of the ceiling-mounted projector at the stage-end. It must also be erected, dismantled and removed within the hired period by the supplier. The hirer is responsible for any damage caused by its use.

Prohibited Items

  • No Candles, Naked Lights, Sparklers, Fireworks, Oil Burners, Gas or Liquid Petroleum Flames smoke
  • No bubble machines/ foam machines, or glitter are allowed.
  • Deep Fat Frying is not allowed.
  • No attachments to light fittings shall be permitted, and no excessive load shall be placed on the Hall electrical supply system with regard to amplification, etc. Electrical appliances owned and used in our halls by hirers must have a valid PAT test label attached. 

Health and Safety

It is the responsibility of the Hirer to ensure the health and safety of all persons attending the function of which he/she is the organiser. 

  • The Hirer should familiarise themselves with the location and operation of the emergency exits and Assembly Point (Co-op Car Park). 
  • Please ensure all fire exits and emergency evacuation routes are always kept clear.
  • A first aid kit is kept in the kitchen with the accident book. 
  • If an accident occurs, report to Parish Administrator using accident report book. Located in the visitors sign-in folder and in First aid box.
  • A Defibrillator is situated by the internal door into the Main Hall. In the Foyer of The Portland Centre there is an access key to the Main Hall
  • If someone is taken ill while in the halls, they should immediately be removed from the room, and arrangements must be made to get them home, to a doctor or hospital as soon as possible. Dial 111 or 999 if an emergency.
  • Hirers are encouraged to keep a list of attendees together with a contact number and retain this for 3 weeks

Insurance

The Hirer shall NOT be covered by Owner’s insurance for any claim whatsoever arising from the activities of The   Hirer. The Hirer shall indemnify the Owner against any claim which may arise out of the hiring or which may be made by any person affected by the activities of The Hirer or person(s) visiting or using the premises during the occupation by The Hirer. The Hirer shall be responsible for taking out insurance to cover any public liability arising from their activities. The Owner shall not be liable for any loss or damage arising out of the hiring, nor for any loss, damage or injury which may be incurred or suffered by, or be done, or happen to, any person(s) visiting or using the premises, during the occupation by The Hirer, arising from any cause whatsoever, so far as any exclusion is permissible by law. The Owner shall not be responsible for any loss due to a breakdown of equipment, failure of the electricity supply, leakage of water, fire or any other circumstance which may cause the premises to be closed or the hire arrangements interrupted or cancelled. 

Indemnity to Hirer

We will indemnify You and, at Your request, any person who hires, rents or borrows The Premises for occasional social events. The maximum We will pay inclusive of Costs and Expenses is £2,000,000.

We will not provide indemnity

(1) In respect of

(a) any commercial or business hire

(b) any individual, club, organisation, society or group who hire The Premises on a regular weekly or monthly basis

(2) where indemnity is provided by another insurance policy.

Bookings: It is not our policy to hire out our buildings for individual party-political meetings or religious uses other than those acceptable to the Christian Faith. 

Performing Rights Society licences: Our premises licences are displayed in the halls’ entrances.

Sale Of Alcohol – No alcoholic drink may be sold at any time unless the Hirer has obtained a Temporary Events Notice from Thanet District Council and has produced the licence to the Halls’ Administrator or authorised representative. No licence will be authorised for Sunday use. 

Smoking/ Vaping Policy – Smoking or vaping is prohibited anywhere within our buildings.

Sub-Letting/Hall Hire – Hirers must not sub-let any room/hall, nor use any room/hall other than that set-out and paid for under their Booking Request/Invoice. 

Church function – Very occasionally a church function may have to take preference over a hirer’s regular booking.  The Administrator will give the Hirer as much notice as possible, and any hire charges will be reimbursed.

Under stage/Storage –No one is permitted under the stage unless requiring access to their storage lockers. Due to health and safety regulations, children are strictly prohibited from under the stage area (this includes the uniformed groups). 

  • We offer storage cupboards for hire by the year, but these are limited and always in high demand. 
  • If you do not have a cupboard, all equipment/items must be removed before leaving the premises. Any property left without permission will be disposed of. 
  • Ensure when visiting Cupboard/Storage area, that you sign in and out.

Lost property can be found in the cloakroom near the parish office. Unclaimed items will be disposed of after eight weeks.

Vulnerable Adults – Care of Children 

Particular attention must be given to the protection of vulnerable adults and children in line with the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006.

Regular Hirer

It is the responsibility of the hirer to produce a Risk Assessment for their event and to take responsibility for the safety of those attending their group.

  • It is of paramount importance that all Regular recurring Hirers are aware that it is their responsibility

to submit their own online booking requests for any future dates and that these are entered on an ongoing basis. It is suggested that as one month is paid for, the corresponding dates for the following year should be added. This will avoid hirer’s regular slots being booked online by others.

One-off Hirers

  • A non-returnable deposit of £25 must be paid at the time of booking.
  • An extra £50 returnable key deposit is required for any evening booking which extends beyond 6pm and we reserve the right to retain some or all of this if there is any mess or damage incurred.
  • Hire prices will be reviewed annually and introduced from January 1st.
  • All Hire payments must be paid in full at least 14 days before the event, by BACS. Cash or Card can be used for payment in the Parish Office.
  • The Terms and Conditions are reviewed annually by the Halls’ Management Committee and can be changed without notice. Please view them online if you are in doubt at www.stpeterinthanet.org.uk/halls/Tsand&Cs

DATED: May 31st 2023

Privacy Policy

GENERAL PRIVACY NOTICE

The Parochial Church of St Peter-in-Thanet

Website Cookie Policy

We use cookies to give you a better online experience. In order to make full use of the St Peter’s Parish website (‘Website’), your computer, tablet or mobile phone will need to accept cookies. We feel that it is important that you know what cookies our Website uses and for what purposes. This will help to protect your privacy, while at the same time providing you with the best online experience.

By clicking ‘Yes’ on the cookie banner, you give your consent to the Parochial Church of St Peter-in-Thanet to place and/or read cookies from the Website you are visiting. Some of these are session cookies which are temporary and allow us to link your actions during a browser session. Session cookies are erased when you close the browser. Other cookies are persistent cookies which remain on your device for the period of time specified in the cookie. The Website uses cookies for the following purposes:

  • FUNCTIONAL COOKIES Functional cookies are essential and help you navigate the Website. They enhance the user friendliness of the Website for visitors. These cookies make sure that your acceptance of this policy only needs to made once, and that your hall booking data is available in your Client Dashboard if you are a signed in user. These cookies also help to support website security and basic functionality.
  • ANALYTICS COOKIES Analytics cookies help us to understand the behaviour of our visitors and the usage of the Website in an aggregated manner. For instance, we can use these cookies to gain insight into how our visitors use our Website. This means we can find out what works and what doesn’t, it allows us to continuously improve the Website, and measure how effective our advertising and communication is.

We do not store any of your personal data in cookies and, unless you submit a contact request through this website, no personal data is harvested or stored from your computer/device other than the IP address from where you are accessing the site.

Your personal data – what is it?

“Personal data” is any information about a living individual which allows them to be identified from that data (for example a name, photographs, videos, email address, or address).  Identification can be by the information alone or in conjunction with any other information.  The processing of personal data is governed by [the Data Protection Bill/Act 2017 the General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679 (the “GDPR” and other legislation relating to personal data and rights such as the Human Rights Act 1998].

Who are we?

This Privacy Notice is provided to you by the Parochial Church Council (PCC) of St Peter-in-Thanet which is the data controller for your data.
The Church of England is made up of a number of different organisations and office-holders who work together to deliver the Church’s mission in each community.  The PCC works together with:

  • the incumbent of the parish (that is, our vicar or rector);
  • the bishops of the Diocese of Canterbury; and
  • the Diocesan Offices (including the offices of the Archdeacons), which are responsible for the financial and administrative arrangements for the Diocese of Canterbury.

As the Church is made up of all of these persons and organisations working together, we may need to share personal data we hold with them so that they can carry out their responsibilities to the Church and our community. The organisations referred to above are joint data controllers. This means we are all responsible to you for how we process your data.


Each of data controller has their own tasks within the Church and a description of what data is processed and for what purpose is set out in this Privacy Notice. This Privacy Notice is given to you by the PCC on our own behalf and on behalf of each of these data controllers. In the rest of this Privacy Notice, we use the word “we” to refer to each data controller, as appropriate.

What data do the data controllers listed above process?

They will process some or all of the following types of data, where necessary to perform their tasks:

  • Names, titles, and aliases, photographs;
  • Contact details such as telephone numbers, addresses, and email addresses;
  • Where they are relevant to our mission, or where you provide them to us, we may process demographic information such as gender, age, date of birth, marital status, nationality, education/work histories, academic/professional qualifications, hobbies, family composition, and dependants;
  • Where you make donations or pay for activities such as use of a church hall, financial identifiers such as bank account numbers, payment card numbers, payment/transaction identifiers, policy numbers, and claim numbers;
  • The data we process is likely to constitute sensitive personal data because, as a church, the fact that we process your data at all may be suggestive of your religious beliefs.  Where you provide this information, we may also process other categories of sensitive personal data: racial or ethnic origin, sex life, mental and physical health, details of injuries, medication/treatment received, political beliefs, labour union affiliation, genetic data, biometric data, data concerning sexual orientation and criminal records, fines and other similar judicial records.

How do we process your personal data?

The data controllers will comply with their legal obligations to: keep personal data up to date; to store and destroy it securely; to not collect or retain excessive amounts of data; to keep personal data secure, and to protect personal data from loss, misuse, unauthorised access and disclosure and to ensure that appropriate technical measures are in place to protect personal data.


We use your personal data for some or all of the following purposes:

  • To enable us to meet all legal and statutory obligations (which include maintaining and publishing our electoral roll in accordance with the Church Representation Rules);
  • To carry out comprehensive safeguarding procedures (including due diligence and complaints handling) in accordance with best safeguarding practice from time to time with the aim of ensuring that all children and adults-at-risk are provided with safe environments;
  • To minister to you and provide you with pastoral and spiritual care (such as visiting you when you are ill or bereaved) and to organise and perform ecclesiastical services for you, such as baptisms, confirmations, weddings and funerals;
  • To deliver the Church’s mission to our community, and to carry out any other voluntary or charitable activities for the benefit of the public as provided for in the constitution and statutory framework of each data controller;
  • To administer the parish, deanery, archdeaconry and diocesan membership records;
  • To fundraise and promote the interests of the Church and charity;
  • To maintain our own accounts and records;
  • To process a donation that you have made (including Gift Aid information);
  • To seek your views or comments;
  • To notify you of changes to our services, events and role holders;
  • To send you communications which you have requested and that may be of interest to you.  These may include information about campaigns, appeals, other fundraising activities;
  • To process a grant or application for a role;
  • To enable us to provide a voluntary service for the benefit of the public in a particular geographical area as specified in our constitution;
  • Our processing also includes the use of CCTV systems for the prevention and prosecution of crime.

What is the legal basis for processing your personal data?


Most of our data is processed because it is necessary for our legitimate interests, or the legitimate interests of a third party (such as another organisation in the Church of England).  An example of this would be our safeguarding work to protect children and adults at risk.  We will always take into account your interests, rights and freedoms.
Some of our processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation. For example, we are required by the Church Representation Rules to administer and publish the electoral roll, and under Canon Law to announce forthcoming weddings by means of the publication of banns.
We may also process data if it is necessary for the performance of a contract with you, or to take steps to enter into a contract. An example of this would be processing your data in connection with the hire of church facilities.
Religious organisations are also permitted to process information about your religious beliefs to administer membership or contact details.
Where your information is used other than in accordance with one of these legal bases, we will first obtain your consent to that use.

Sharing your personal data


Your personal data will be treated as strictly confidential. It will only be shared with third parties where it is necessary for the performance of our tasks or where you first give us your prior consent. It is likely that we will need to share your data with some or all of the following (but only where necessary):

  • The appropriate bodies of the Church of England including the other data controllers;
  • Our agents, servants and contractors. For example, we may ask a commercial provider to send out newsletters on our behalf, or to maintain our database software;
  • Other clergy or lay persons nominated or licensed by the bishops of the Diocese of Canterbury to support the mission of the Church in our parish. For example, our clergy are supported by our area dean, lay chair and archdeacon, who may provide confidential mentoring and pastoral support. Assistant or temporary ministers, including curates, deacons, licensed lay ministers, commissioned lay ministers or persons with Bishop’s Permissions may participate in our mission in support of our regular clergy;
  • Other persons or organisations operating within the Diocese of Canterbury including but not limited to, where relevant, the Canterbury Diocesan Enterprises Ltd and Aquila (the Diocese of Canterbury Academies Trust).
  • On occasion, other churches with which we are carrying out joint events or activities.

How long do we keep your personal data?


We will keep some records permanently if we are legally required to do so. We may keep some other records for an extended period of time. For example, it is current best practice to keep financial records for a minimum period of 7 years to support HMRC audits. In general, we will endeavour to keep data only for as long as we need it. This means that we may delete it when it is no longer needed.

Your rights and your personal data 


When exercising any of the rights listed below, in order to process your request, we may need to verify your identity for your security. In such cases we will need you to respond with proof of your identity before you can exercise these rights.


You have the following rights with respect to your personal data:

  1. The right to access information we hold on you
    • At any point you can contact us to request the information we hold on you as well as why we have that information, who has access to the information and where we obtained the information from.  Once we have received your request we will respond within one month.
    • There are no fees or charges for the first request but additional requests for the same data may be subject to an administrative fee.
  2. The right to correct and update the information we hold on you
    • If the data we hold on you is out of date, incomplete or incorrect, you can inform us and your data will be updated.
  3. The right to have your information erased
    • If you feel that we should no longer be using your data or that we are illegally using your data, you can request that we erase the data we hold.
    • When we receive your request we will confirm whether the data has been deleted or the reason why it cannot be deleted (for example because we need it for our legitimate interests or regulatory purpose(s)).
  4. The right to object to processing of your data
    • You have the right to request that we stop processing your data. Upon receiving the request we will contact you and let you know if we are able to comply or if we have legitimate grounds to continue to process your data.  Even after you exercise your right to object, we may continue to hold your data to comply with your other rights or to bring or defend legal claims.
  5. The right to data portability
    • You have the right to request that we transfer some of your data to another controller. We will comply with your request, where it is feasible to do so, within one month of receiving your request.
  6. The right to withdraw your consent to the processing at any time for any processing of data for which consent was sought.
    • You can withdraw your consent easily by telephone, email, or by post (see Contact Details below).
  7. The right to object to the processing of personal data where applicable.
  8. The right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office.

Transfer of Data Abroad

personal data transferred to countries or territories outside the EU will only be placed on systems complying with measures giving equivalent protection of personal rights either through international agreements or contracts approved by the European Union. Our website is also accessible from overseas so on occasion some personal data (for example in a newsletter) may be accessed from overseas.

Further processing

If we wish to use your personal data for a new purpose, not covered by this Notice, then we will provide you with a new notice explaining this new use prior to commencing the processing and setting out the relevant purposes and processing conditions. Where and whenever necessary, we will seek your prior consent to the new processing.

Contact Details

Please contact us if you have any questions about this Privacy Notice or the information we hold about you or to exercise all relevant rights, queries or complaints at:

The Data Controller, St Peter-in-Thanet, The Parish Office, Hopeville Avenue, St Peter’s, Broadstairs CT10 2TR

Tel: 01843 866061

Email: DataProtection@stpeterinthanet.org.uk

You can contact the Information Commissioners Office on 0303 123 1113, or via email (https://ico.org.uk/global/contact-s/email) or at the Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.

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