Instructions and Conditions of Use for Holy Saviour’s Church
Respect for the Space
We're delighted that you want to use the Church and we warmly welcome its use for community groups. Please be mindful that the Church is a place of worship which holds a special place in the life of our community. The Church is usually open to the public during the day as a place of quiet reflection and prayer. Please treat the Church respect.
Hire fees
You will be charged an hourly rate for the use of the Church. We will invoice you in advance, indicating the methods of payment. Fees need to receive in full prior to your event. The hourly rate is reviewed annually.
Opening and Closing
A key holder will open the Church for you and close it at the times indicated on your booking form.
Please telephone Steve Dixon(Vicar) 07729 393 580 in case of difficulty.
Safety
No smoking or vaping is allowed inside or around the Church.
The Church Health and Safety file is available for your use and is kept in the Parish Office.
A First Aid Box is located in the Parish Centre by the window in the kitchen. The 'what/three/words' location of the Church is displayed in the porch if the emergency services need to attend.
Location and Use of Fire Equipment
Fire extinguishers are located by the Church exits and next to the Parish Centre entrance and toilets. There is also a fire extinguisher and a fire blanket located in the kitchen.
In the event of a fire, the Church should be evacuated in an orderly manner using the appropriate exits and the Fire Brigade should be called, dialling 999.
The exact location of the fire exits and fire extinguishers must be noted before the Church is occupied and the manner of opening fire doors should be made known to your users.
Bouncy Castles and inflatable play equipment
We do not permit the use of bouncy castles and other such inflatable play equipment in or around the Church and Parish Centre.
Accidents
All hirers are required to complete details of any accident or incident occurring during their occupation of the premises (which did or could give rise to injury) as soon as possible after the accident/incident but in any case before the premises are vacated by them after the event. The Accident/Incident Book can be found by the kitchen window in the Parish Centre. Any significant incident should be reported immediately to the Vicar or a Churchwarden.
Toilets
There are three toilets , including a disabled toilet, in the Parish Centre.
Disabled access
All areas of the Church and Parish Centre are wheelchair accessible apart from the chancel and vestries which have a couple of steps.
Heating
The heating will be programmed to match your hire period. Please note that changing the heating thermostat will have no immediate effect as it takes a while for the Church to warm up in cold weather.
Chairs and tables
There are movable chairs and folding tables in the Church and Parish Centre. The Church can accommodate a maximum of 250 seated in the pews with up to 50 seated in the chancel (raised area at the front).
Kitchen
The Parish Centre has a small galley kitchen with single washing up sink/drainer, under-bench fridge and four ring hob and oven. It is suitable for making light refreshments.
Telephone and WiFi
The Church has no public telephone so you are advised to bring a fully charged mobile telephone for use in an emergency. Mobile phone signal is limited inside the Church, but is usually good outside. WiFi is available on request.
Car Parking
There is no dedicated car park, so parking is on the road. Please be aware that parking at the weekend is very limited and park with consideration for our neighbours and their driveways.
Care of the Church
Please do not use drawing pins or sellotape on the walls or other surfaces; use blu-tack if you need to put up notices. Do not fix decorations near light fittings or heaters as this could cause a fire.
Please leave the Church clean and tidy. In particular we ask that you ensure table tops are wiped clean after use. The Church is cleaned by volunteers once a fortnight, so the next users rely on you leaving the Church in a useable state. Cleaning equipment can be found in the Parish Centre kitchen and the store cupboard at the end of the corridor. We reserve the right to charge hirers for any additional cleaning we deem necessary.
Please do not leave any rubbish in or around the Church – take it away at the end of your session as our bins cannot cope.
Parties for Teenagers
Unfortunately, due to some experiences of damage during parties held for teenagers, we no longer take bookings for such events.
Faults/Damage/Comments
Please report any faults or damage to the Vicar or Churchwardens as soon as possible so that they can be rectified quickly. We welcome constructive comments or observations you may have about the hire of the Church.
At the end of your visit
The building should be vacated at the agreed finish time. If your event is in the evening, please be considerate to local residents and leave quietly at the close of your event.