Effective Date: 26 August 2025
PLEASE READ THIS PRIVACY POLICY CAREFULLY TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE COLLECT, USE, AND PROTECT YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION.
1. INTRODUCTION
Christ Church Woodford (“we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Church”) is committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information responsibly and in accordance with applicable data protection laws. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information when you visit our website at https://christchurchwoodford.org/ (the “Site”) or otherwise interact with us.
As a parish church in the Church of England, we are dedicated to maintaining the trust and confidence of all who engage with our ministry. This Privacy Policy applies to all personal information collected through the Site, email communications, telephone contact, and in-person interactions with the Church.
By using the Site or providing us with your personal information, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy and consent to our collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information as described herein.
2. DATA CONTROLLER
Christ Church Woodford is the data controller responsible for your personal information collected through the Site and our church activities.
Contact Information:
Christ Church Woodford
Chester Road
Woodford
Stockport
SK7 1PR
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 161 439 2286
Email: info@christchurchwoodford.org
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us using the information provided above or as specified in Section 10 (Contact Us).
3. INFORMATION WE COLLECT
We are committed to collecting only the minimum personal information necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy. We do not automatically collect personal data from visitors to our Site or church premises.
3.1 Information You Provide Voluntarily
We collect personal information only when you voluntarily choose to provide it to us. This may include:
Email Newsletter Subscriptions:
- Email address
- Name (if you choose to provide it)
- Subscription preferences
Direct Contact and Inquiries:
- Name
- Email address
- Telephone number (if provided)
- Any information contained in your message or inquiry
Prayer Requests and Pastoral Care:
- Name
- Contact information
- Any information you choose to share in your prayer request or pastoral inquiry
Event Registration:
- Name
- Email address
- Telephone number (if required)
- Any additional information necessary for event participation
3.2 Information Collected Automatically
When you visit our Site, certain technical information may be collected automatically through the use of standard web technologies, including:
- Internet Protocol (IP) address
- Browser type and version
- Operating system
- Pages visited on the Site
- Date and time of visit
- Referring website addresses
This information is collected through cookies and similar technologies for the purposes of improving the Site’s functionality, analyzing usage patterns, and enhancing user experience. For more information about our use of cookies, please see Section 9 (Cookies and Similar Technologies).
3.3 Information We Do Not Collect
We do NOT collect:
- Payment card information (we do not process online donations or payments through the Site)
- Sensitive personal data unless you voluntarily provide it (e.g., in prayer requests)
- Personal information from children under the age of 13 without parental consent
4. HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION
We use the personal information we collect for the following purposes:
4.1 Church Communications
To send you our church newsletter, updates about services, events, and ministry activities. This includes:
- Weekly or periodic newsletters
- Service times and special events
- Church announcements and prayer requests
- Seasonal messages and pastoral communications
4.2 Responding to Inquiries
To respond to questions, comments, or requests you submit to us through email, telephone, or the Site.
4.3 Providing Pastoral Care
To provide spiritual guidance, prayer support, and pastoral care when requested.
4.4 Event Management
To process registrations for church events, activities, and services.
4.5 Site Administration and Improvement
To maintain, operate, and improve the Site, including:
- Monitoring and analyzing usage patterns and trends
- Diagnosing technical problems
- Enhancing user experience and Site functionality
4.6 Legal Compliance
To comply with applicable laws, regulations, legal processes, or governmental requests.
4.7 Safeguarding
To fulfill our safeguarding obligations and protect the welfare of vulnerable individuals in accordance with Church of England safeguarding policies.
We will NOT:
- Send you spam or unsolicited communications
- Use your information for commercial marketing purposes
- Sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties
- Use your information for any purpose incompatible with those stated in this Privacy Policy
5. LEGAL BASIS FOR PROCESSING
Under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018, we must have a legal basis for processing your personal information. Our legal bases include:
Consent: You have given clear consent for us to process your personal information for specific purposes (e.g., subscribing to our newsletter).
Legitimate Interests: Processing is necessary for our legitimate interests in operating the Church, providing ministry services, and communicating with our congregation, provided such interests do not override your rights and freedoms.
Legal Obligation: Processing is necessary for compliance with legal obligations, including safeguarding requirements.
You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time by contacting us or using the unsubscribe mechanism provided in our communications.
6. HOW WE SHARE YOUR INFORMATION
We respect your privacy and will not share your personal information except as described in this Privacy Policy.
6.1 No Third-Party Marketing
We will NEVER sell, rent, lease, or trade your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes.
6.2 Service Providers
We may share your personal information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating the Site, conducting our ministry, or providing services to you, provided such parties agree to keep your information confidential. These service providers may include:
- Email marketing platform providers (e.g., for managing newsletter subscriptions)
- Website hosting providers
- IT support and maintenance providers
These service providers are authorized to use your personal information only as necessary to provide services to us and are contractually obligated to maintain the confidentiality and security of your information.
6.3 Church of England Diocese
We may share information with the Diocese of Chester or the Church of England’s national bodies as required for administrative, safeguarding, or ecclesiastical purposes.
6.4 Legal Requirements
We may disclose your personal information if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g., a court order, subpoena, or law enforcement agency) or to:
- Comply with legal obligations
- Protect and defend our rights or property
- Prevent or investigate possible wrongdoing
- Protect the personal safety of users of the Site or the public
- Protect against legal liability
6.5 Safeguarding
We may share information when necessary to fulfill our safeguarding obligations and protect vulnerable individuals in accordance with Church of England safeguarding policies and applicable law.
7. YOUR RIGHTS AND CHOICES
Under data protection law, you have certain rights regarding your personal information. These rights include:
7.1 Right of Access
You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you and to receive a copy of such information.
7.2 Right to Rectification
You have the right to request that we correct any inaccurate or incomplete personal information we hold about you.
7.3 Right to Erasure
You have the right to request that we delete your personal information in certain circumstances, such as when:
- The information is no longer necessary for the purposes for which it was collected
- You withdraw your consent (where consent was the legal basis for processing)
- You object to the processing and there are no overriding legitimate grounds
Please note that we may need to retain certain information for legal or administrative purposes, including safeguarding records.
7.4 Right to Restrict Processing
You have the right to request that we restrict the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.
7.5 Right to Data Portability
You have the right to receive your personal information in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format and to transmit that information to another data controller.
7.6 Right to Object
You have the right to object to our processing of your personal information based on legitimate interests.
7.7 Right to Withdraw Consent
Where we process your personal information based on your consent, you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time.
7.8 Unsubscribe from Communications
You have the right to unsubscribe from our email newsletter at any time by:
- Clicking the “unsubscribe” link included in every email communication
- Contacting us directly using the information in Section 10 (Contact Us)
Once you unsubscribe, we will remove your email address from our mailing list. Please allow up to 10 business days for your request to be processed.
7.9 Exercising Your Rights
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information provided in Section 10 (Contact Us). We will respond to your request within one month, although this period may be extended by two additional months in certain circumstances. We may need to verify your identity before processing your request.
You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK’s supervisory authority for data protection issues, if you believe we have not handled your personal information appropriately. More information can be found at www.ico.org.uk.
8. DATA SECURITY
We take the security of your personal information seriously and implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized or unlawful processing, accidental loss, destruction, or damage.
These measures include:
- Secure storage of personal information with access restricted to authorized church personnel only
- Regular security assessments and updates to our systems
- Use of secure communication channels (e.g., encrypted email where appropriate)
- Staff and volunteer training on data protection and confidentiality
However, please note that no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security. You provide your personal information at your own risk.
9. DATA RETENTION
We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected and to comply with our legal obligations.
Email Newsletter Subscriptions: We retain your email address and associated information until you unsubscribe or request deletion, or until we determine your email address is no longer active.
Direct Inquiries: We retain correspondence and inquiry information for a reasonable period to maintain a record of our communications and to respond to any follow-up questions.
Event Registration: We retain event registration information for the duration of the event and for a reasonable period thereafter for administrative purposes.
Safeguarding Records: In accordance with Church of England policy and legal requirements, safeguarding records are retained indefinitely or for such period as required by law.
Inactive Accounts: We may delete personal information associated with email subscriptions that have been inactive for an extended period (typically 24 months or more).
When personal information is no longer needed, we will delete or anonymize it in accordance with our data retention policy and applicable law.
10. COOKIES AND SIMILAR TECHNOLOGIES
The Site may use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience, analyze Site usage, and improve Site functionality.
What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and to provide information to website owners.
Types of Cookies We Use:
- Essential Cookies: These cookies are necessary for the Site to function properly and cannot be disabled.
- Analytics Cookies: These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with the Site by collecting and reporting information anonymously.
- Functional Cookies: These cookies enable enhanced functionality and personalization.
Your Cookie Choices:
Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can modify your browser settings to decline cookies if you prefer. However, disabling cookies may affect your ability to use certain features of the Site.
For more information about cookies and how to manage them, please visit www.aboutcookies.org or www.allaboutcookies.org.
11. THIRD-PARTY WEBSITES AND SERVICES
The Site may contain links to third-party websites, resources, or services that are not owned or controlled by Christ Church Woodford. This Privacy Policy applies only to information collected by us through the Site and our direct interactions with you.
We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of third-party websites or services. When you click on a link to a third-party website, you will be subject to that website’s privacy policy. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party websites you visit.
12. CHILDREN’S PRIVACY
The Site is not directed to children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without parental consent. If you are under 13, please do not provide any personal information through the Site.
If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under 13 without parental consent, we will delete that information promptly. If you believe we may have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately using the information in Section 10 (Contact Us).
For church activities involving children and young people, we follow the Church of England’s safeguarding policies and obtain appropriate parental consent before collecting or using any personal information.
13. INTERNATIONAL DATA TRANSFERS
Your personal information is processed and stored in the United Kingdom. If you are accessing the Site from outside the UK, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the UK, where data protection laws may differ from those in your country.
By using the Site and providing us with your personal information, you consent to the transfer of your information to the UK.
14. CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY
We reserve the right to modify or update this Privacy Policy at any time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. When we make changes to this Privacy Policy, we will update the “Effective Date” at the top of this page and post the revised Privacy Policy on the Site.
If we make material changes to this Privacy Policy that significantly affect your rights, we will provide additional notice, such as through a prominent notice on the Site or by email to the address you have provided.
We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we collect, use, and protect your personal information. Your continued use of the Site after any changes to this Privacy Policy constitutes your acceptance of the revised Privacy Policy.
15. CONTACT US
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data protection practices, please contact us at:
Christ Church Woodford
Chester Road
Woodford
Stockport
SK7 1PR
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 161 439 2286
Email: info@christchurchwoodford.org
Website: https://christchurchwoodford.org/
To unsubscribe from our email newsletter: You may click the “unsubscribe” link in any email communication or email us at info@christchurchwoodford.org, with the subject heading: “Unsubscribe from Newsletter”.
To exercise your data protection rights: You may email us at info@christchurchwoodford.org, with the subject heading: “Data Protection Rights Request”. Please include sufficient detail to allow us to identify you and understand your request.
For safeguarding concerns: Please contact our Parish Safeguarding Officer through the contact details above or refer to the safeguarding information on our website.
BY USING THIS SITE OR PROVIDING US WITH YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD THIS PRIVACY POLICY.