Churches Tourism Association

Wouldn't it be great if our churches and chapels could be open every day, in daylight hours? Sadly there are many churches which are kept locked. The reason given is that the risk of having them open is too great.

Sometimes that will be true but how has the risk been assessed? Has it been assessed at all? Is it simply an opinion that has never been tested in any way? Nick Tolson of National ChurchWatch offers advice...

Nick Tolson is the National Churchwatch Co-ordinator responsible for advising dioceses, police forces and churches on crime issues, including personal safety. The jacket of his 'Places of Worship Security Manual' says, "Crime in our places of worship has reached almost epidemic proportions."So keep them locked?' "Certainly not", says Nick, "but do take sensible precautions."

The main reason that places of worship do not open is the fear of crime. The likelihood is that if you do suffer from crime (and you probably will at some point) it will be petty in nature. Is closing the church, depriving your community of the benefits it offers, the answer?

Nick advises: "You can be open. But you must do a little preparation. This book will assist you and I hope that it will give you confidence to deal with some of the crime-related issues. There are 70,000 places of worship in this country. Let's try and get the majority open for the purpose they were intended."

This manual should be read by those are concerned for the safety of their church - which surely means by those who already open their church and those who so far, have not opened it to the Visitor.

National Churchwatch encourages all churches to be open during daylight hours so that they can continue to be a dedicated space for public worship and a focus for events and community activities. They work with dioceses, police forces and other groups to give churches the confidence to deal with any crime issues they may have.

Clergy, volunteers and church members should be safe whilst following their vocation, so ChurchWatch offers training courses in personal safety to help them deal with any threatening situation they may face.  

'Places of Worship Security Manual' (£7.95) is published by Berkswell Publishing Co Ltd . The National ChurchWatch website provides more information, including advice on tackling and preventing crime in your church.