Church
Data Privacy Statement
Guildford United Reformed Church, Portsmouth Road, Guildford. GU2 4BS
Please note: This is not the master copy.
The master GURC Data Privacy Statement is not currently accessible on the GURC web site but an archive copy is available via the Wayback Machine,
The GURC pays an annual data protection fee to the Information Commissioner's Office. The register entry is accessible here.
The text of the version here was last updated 24th May 2018 from the April 2018 master.
We last checked that the April 2018 master remained current on 4th February 2023
1. Personal data
Personal data relates to a living individual who can be identified from that data. Identification can be by the information alone or in conjunction with any other information in the data controller’s possession or likely to come into such possession. The processing of personal data is governed by the General Data Protection Regulation (the ‘GDPR’).
2. Data Controller
The eldership (serving elders) of Guildford United Reformed Church is the data controller (contact details in section 9 below). This means it decides how your personal data is processed and for what purposes. All data is managed, stored and processed within the UK/EU.
3. How do we process your personal data?
The eldership of Guildford United Reformed Church complies with its obligations under the “GDPR” by keeping personal data up to date; by storing and destroying it securely; by not collecting or retaining excessive amounts of data; by protecting personal data from loss, misuse, unauthorised access and disclosure and by ensuring that appropriate technical measures are in place to protect personal data.
We use personal data for the following purposes: -
to administer membership records;
to maintain our financial accounts and records (including the processing of gift aid);
to provide news and information about events, activities and services at the church;
to fundraise and promote the interests of the church;
to manage employees and volunteers;
to enable the church to provide voluntary services for the benefit of the public in our local community;
to provide contact details of officers and others with specific responsibilities (eg DBS signatories) to the synod office and Church House. This enables the synod and national administration of the United Reformed Church.
4. What is the legal basis for processing your personal data?
Processing is carried out by a not-for-profit body with a religious aim provided:
the processing relates only to members or former members (or those who have regular contact with it in connection with this purpose); and
there is no disclosure to a third party without consent; or
Processing is necessary for carrying out obligations under employment, social security or social protection law, or a collective agreement; or
Explicit consent of the data subject has been given.
5. Sharing personal data
Your personal data will be treated as strictly confidential and will only be shared with other members of the church in order to carry out a service to other church members or for purposes connected with the church. We will only share your data with third parties with your consent.
6. How long do we keep data?
We retain data on the following basis:
Below is a list of record types and the retention period (with reason) for each:
Membership rolls
Indefinitely for historical records
Contact details of Members, adherents and friends
24 months after the last contact for purposes connected with the church's activities
Cradle roll
Indefinitely for historical records
Gift aid declarations and paperwork
6 years after the tax year to which it relates for legal requirement
Registers of Marriage
As required by the Registrar General for legal requirement
Register of Baptisms
Indefinitely for legal requirement
Personal data relating to events for which additional information is gathered
Disposed of immediately after the event unless anything has occurred (eg an accident) which indicates that records should be retained for a longer period.
Records of attendance of children/young people and helpers
Indefinitely for safeguarding purposes
Insurance Records
6 years after the calendar year to which it relates for legal requirement
Safeguarding matters
Indefinitely or until advised otherwise by authorities. Legitimate interest requirement.
Accident Books
3 years from the date of the last entry (or, if the accident involves a child/ young adult, then until that person reaches the age of 21) for legal requirement
Complaints (non-safeguarding)
3 years after resolution of complaint (unless further action is anticipated) in case follow up is necessary
Minute Books
Indefinitely for historical records
Employee Records
6 years after the date of termination of employment for legal requirement
Pension Records (money purchase)
6 years after transfer or value taken for legal requirement
Photographs and videos of events
24 months after the event – selected items retained for historical records
Web site & Social media
Data used with permission
7. Your rights and your personal data
Unless subject to an exemption under the GDPR, you have the following rights with respect to your personal data: -
The right to request a copy of the personal data which Guildford United Reformed Church holds about you (a Subject Access Request or ‘SAR’);
The right to request that the eldership of Guildford United Reformed Church corrects any personal data if it is found to be inaccurate or out of date;
The right to request your personal data is erased where it is no longer necessary for Guildford United Reformed Church to retain such data;
The right to withdraw your consent to the processing at any time;
The right to request that the data controller provide you with your personal data and where possible, to transmit that data directly to another data controller.
The right, where there is a dispute in relation to the accuracy or processing of your personal data, to request a restriction is placed on further processing;
The right to object to the processing of personal data;
The right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioners Office.
8. Further processing
If we wish to use your personal data for a new purpose, not covered by this Data Protection 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.
9. Contact Details
To exercise all relevant rights, queries or complaints please in the first instance contact the Church Secretary at secretary@guildfordurc.org.uk
You can contact the Information Commissioners Office on 0303 123 1113 or via email https://ico.org.uk/global/contact-us/email/ or at the Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire. SK9 5AF.
The Elders
Guildford United Reformed Church
Date: April 2018