Church Insurance

Enhanced package for churches that own or lease their premises, including a wide range of activities that they could be involved in.

Explore Our Church Insurance Options

Explore our range of church insurance options below to find the coverage that best suits your needs.

Churches are more than places of worship, they are fundamental to our communities.  To allow you to carry out your important work, insurance for your church should be there in the background as a safety net, should you ever need it.

Many churches are unique buildings that deserve to be protected, but they can present an array of challenges and requirements, due to their diverse needs.  Whether you’re looking for Church Insurance, Church Trustee Insurance, or contents insurance, at Edwards Insurance Brokers, we offer an array of services, specifically tailored to the sector.

At Edwards Insurance Brokers, we’ve arranged insurance policies for over 2,000 places of worship right across the UK.  Our strength of experience in arranging insurance for church buildings means that we are able to address your specific issues and needs.  Our team of Church Building Insurance specialists will work with you to arrange a policy that is as unique as your congregation.

Some of the things we will discuss with you are:

  • The size of your charitable organisation/place of worship

  • Any specialist service and/or advice you provide

  • Employer’s and public Liability Insurance

  • Church Building Insurance

  • Contents Insurance

  • Church Indemnity Insurance

  • Church Trustee Indemnity Insurance

  • Directors and Officers Church Insurance

All policyholders at Edwards Insurance Brokers will benefit from:

  • Unique cover enhancements that are not available directly with the insurer or via another broker

  • A dedicated Account Handler to manage their policy

  • Our own in-house claims team to aid the claims process

  • The knowledge that we are a Chartered Insurance Brokerage, meaning our expertise and ethical approach is guaranteed at all times

Our specialities

  • Church Employers’ and Public Liability Insurance

    Public liability cover will ensure that you are covered for the cost of investigation, defence and potential compensation fees. Employers’ liability is essential for your church staff. Without it you could be charged hefty fines for each day you’re not covered.

  • Church Building Insurance

    Church property insurance will protect your church and associated buildings such as church halls and outbuildings against such risks, as well as damage from floods, fires and storms.

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Why choose Edwards Insurance Brokers?

We genuinely care about the organisations we are fortunate to call our clients.

Whether large or small, we assign the right specialist to understand your unique needs to provide relevant advice and knowledge. We take on your concerns as our own and are available 24/7 in the event of an emergency.

Throughout our history in the insurance industry, we’ve built our reputation on quality advice and delivering the highest level of service.

What we offer:

  • Designed for Fellowships that meet in hired, rented or loaned premises. 

    At Edwards Insurance Brokers, we understand that hirers often request Fellowship organisations for their legal liabilities to be met.

    The core covers we offer are Public Liability along with Employers Liability on the assumption that your Fellowship have volunteers. Optional covers such as Contents, Computer & Electronic Equipment in and away from the premises, Trustees Liability, Money & Business Interruption are all available if required.

    To get a quote please click here and complete the questions to your best knowledge and submit it. We will then arrange to contact you promptly and aim to meet your requirements.

    Get a quote

  • Church buildings can be more vulnerable than other properties due to often being unoccupied during the night when vandalism and theft are more likely to happen.

    Church property insurance will protect your church and associated buildings such as church halls and outbuildings against such risks, as well as damage from floods, fires and storms.

    Insurance for church buildings can cover:

    • Storm, fire and flood damage

    • Accidental and malicious damage

    • Theft including external metal

    • Glass breakage including stained glass

    • Impact

    • Escape of water

  • Church Cyber Cover insurance protects your IT systems in the event of a cyber-attack, including data theft/breaches, malware, viruses and a multitude of other malicious attacks.

    The cost of dealing with such an attack is not only financial but can also affect the reputation of your church. Cyber insurance will help get your church back on its feet as soon as possible, covering you against liability claims, financial losses and aid with reputational damage.

    A typical policy can include;

    • Malware and ransomware

    • Data breaches and loss/corruption of data

    • Operation interruption

    • Damage to systems

  • Church Legal Protection Insurance covers the legal expenses incurred stemming from court proceedings which you’re considered likely to win.

    This could be due to a member of the clergy being required to attend a hearing or representing them in a dispute.

    Policyholders will also have unlimited access to a legal advice helpline for any concerns or queries you have along the way.

    A typical policy can include;

    • Contract disputes

    • Claims over property

    • Employment disputes/allegations

  • Loss of Money Insurance cover protects the cash held in or for your church against the risk of theft and loss.

    Whether your church holds cash in a secure safe or is kept by your treasurer, it’s worth ensuring that it’s insured for your peace of mind.

    A typical policy can include;

    • Money in transit

    • Money stored in a safe

    • Money stored securely on site but not in a safe

    • Money lost in working hours

  • This cover protects your church website and other publications against the risk of libel, in the event that it is found to harm the reputation of a third-party, infringe on copyright/plagiarise someone else’s work or similar. 

    Publishers’ Indemnity insurance cover will account for the financial repercussions of legal action taken against your church, including investigation, defence and court costs.

    A typical policy can include;

    • Defamation

    • Copyright and trademark infringement

    • Errors

    • Plagiarism

  • Methodist Churches are essential to our communities. To allow you to carry out your important work, insurance for your church should be there in the background as a safety net, should you ever need it.

    As a family-run Chartered Insurance Broker, our traditional approach is built on our genuine care for our clients.

    At Edwards Insurance Brokers, we go above and beyond by providing insurance for Churches, as well as Circuits and Districts who may have properties held for investment all over the UK. Our experience gives us a specialist understanding of what matters most to you.

    We will work directly with your committee to provide a level of cover that offers a great value and enhanced protection. All our clients are given a dedicated Account Handler that you can contact directly, which avoids any impersonal approaches.

  • Church All Risks insurance cover is an additional cover for items belonging to the church which are taken out of the building either for home use or at another venue.   

    Cover for unspecified items can be arranged up to a single article limit of £1,000. Items over this amount would need to be specified on your schedule.

  • Church Contents insurance cover is designed to protect the assets inside your church.

    Your policy will cover the non-fixed contents, equipment and furnishings in your church against events such as;

    • Fire, flood and storm damage

    • Theft, vandalism and malicious damage

    • Impact

    • Escape of water

    • Accidental damage

  • As churches are accessible to the public and often host a number of community events, it’s important to have suitable liability cover to protect you should something go wrong.

    If a member of the public is injured or their property is damaged in your church, or as a result of your church activities due to your negligence – you could be held liable. Public liability cover will ensure that you are covered for the cost of investigation, defence and potential compensation fees.

    Employers Liability cover is essential for your church staff and volunteers to provide protection if they are injured whilst undertaking duties for your church.

    A typical policy can include:

    • Defence and investigation costs

    • Compensation fees

    • Personal injury

    • Damage to property

  • If your church suffers a major event such as a fire or flood, this insurance feature will cover you for the loss of income incurred. 

    This means that should something happen, your church will have the peace of mind that it’s covered financially until you get back on your feet.

  • Personal Accident insurance cover protects your employees, clergy and volunteers in the event of accident.

    This comes in the form of benefit payments which will vary dependent on the severity and repercussions of the injury.

  • Trustees of the church hold a position of responsibility for making sure it is run correctly and for ensuring any charitable objectives are delivered.

    The problem with being in a position of responsibility is that you could personally be held liable if a claim is made against you. Trustees’ Indemnity insurance cover provides church trustees with an armour of protection, so if you are accused of a wrongful act, you will be covered against the financial repercussions. This includes investigating, defending and compensating a claim.

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Outstanding Reviews

  • Very helpful team who take the time to understand exactly what your needs are so they can tailor services for you.

    Catherine

  • I have always found the staff at Edwards Insurance very helpful and supportive when I have needed to consult them, and am very glad we have them as our brokers.

    Margaret

  • We have dealt with Edwards for over 5 years and they are always helpful and knowledgeable whenever I call them. They also have a proactive approach to enhancing Church Insurance products but with a competitive premium.

    Phil A

Church Insurance FAQs

  • The theft of metal is on the rise in the UK so any metal on or around your church needs to be protected!  Increase your surveillance around the church – this might include:

    • Cutting back any trees that might screen any criminal activity and introducing a security light to increase visibility in the area.

    • Make sure any gates allowing access to the premises are locked when not in use and keep any means of transporting any stolen goods e.g. wheelbarrows safely stored away from the church building.

    • Reduce any access to the roof of the building by keeping any ladders stored away, and if scaffolding is erected around the church that there is a 2m fence around the base to deter climbers.

    • You could also apply Anti-Climb Paint to drain pipes and guttering to restrict access to roof and Smartwater to invisibly mark any metal or roof tiles for forensic identification should they be stolen.  Please note – Clear signs should be displayed for both Anti-Climb Paint and Smartwater, signs also act as a deterrent.

  • DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks are performed by a government service to see if an individual has a criminal record – you may recall these being called CRB (Criminal Record Bureau) checks. You will need one if you intend to work (including volunteer work) with children or vulnerable adults. You should also have a written Safeguarding Policy which should be reviewed annually.  You can find more information on DBS checks at:

    https://www.gov.uk/disclosure-barring-service-check

  • Information can be found on the following websites:

    http://www.spow.co.uk/

    http://www.hse.gov.uk/

  • If you plan to hold any form of firework/bonfire display you will need to let us know so we can discuss this with your insurers before you can go ahead. You will need to carry out a fire risk assessment and if you plan to run the display yourself you might need to fill in a short questionnaire. If you plan to hire a contractor to run the display, you should make sure you have confirmation that they have the appropriate Public Liability insurance and that they comply with all of the appropriate relevant bodies. Call us on 01564 730 900 to arrange cover for a firework display and visit http://www.spow.co.uk/ for useful advice on safety during your church’s activities.

  • If you have a gallery or balcony in your church building, you must have in place a barrier that complies with building regulations (BS5395). This states that a barrier of 800mm must be erected 530mm in front of the front fixed seating. The height of the barrier should be increased to 1100mm at the bottom of any descending stairs on the gallery/balcony. We suggest any galleries or balconies open, should be stewarded at all times and children should only be allowed to sit on the front row when accompanied by a responsible adult.

  • Are you hiring the Bouncy Castle or is it your own inflatable? If you are hiring a Bouncy Castle you should always ensure that the company fully complies with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Guidance note PM76 – “The Safe Operation of Inflatable Bouncing Devices”. You should also make sure the company employs suitably experienced and trained personnel to set up, operate and supervise the Bouncy Castle and that the company can provide evidence that they have Public Liability insurance of at least £2m. The company should be a member of the PIPA scheme and their equipment should have a current PIPA certificate – you can check this at www.pipa.org.uk where you will also find additional useful safety information. Any inflatables you own should also comply with the PIPA regulations and have a current PIPA certificate. The Bouncy Castle should be suitably supervised by responsible adults at all times and full risk assessments should be carried out prior to the event.

  • Anyone hiring your church buildings should have their own Public Liability insurance for whatever event they might be holding there. As a third party they are responsible for any damage that may be incurred to the buildings or church property. If third party hirers do not have their own insurance, you could end up having to pay an expensive liability claim on their behalf, which could impact future renewal terms and affect any no claims discounts you may have under your policy. If you do have any hirers that would like us to obtain a quote for Public Liability insurance on their behalf, please call 01564 730 900.

  • Cover for Contract Works insurance can be arranged if we are advised. This covers any work you may be carrying out to your church e.g. extensions, refurbishments, conversions and the materials used to complete the work. If the church is to undergo any kind of work like this, you should contact our Church Department on 01564 730 900 to discuss whether you require an extension to your existing cover. Please note that if you have scaffolding erected on the outside of the church, theft of external metal is automatically excluded.

  • Will the night shelter be solely run by your church, or is it a ‘Churches Together’ organised event? We will need to let your insurers know some background information such as: where the guests will be sleeping, how many guests you are expecting and whether they have been assessed by an agency for known drink and drug problems. What facilities will you be providing for your guests? You will also need to let us know how many people will be supervising the shelter during the night and what kind of security precautions will be in place for their safety and provide full risk assessments.

  • Is your foodbank solely run by the church? If it’s not, you may require a separate policy. You need to let us know where you’ll be storing the food and what kind of food you will be keeping (is it perishable?). We will also need to know that you’ve carried out the appropriate risk assessments and who is providing training for your volunteers. Let us know if your foodbank is part of the Trussell Trust charity (www.trusselltrust.org).

  • Yes! Trustees Indemnity cover is included within your church policy wording.  The limit of indemnity varies from insurer to insurer, so make sure to check your policy schedule.

Get in touch

Call us on 01564 730900, or fill in the contact form below:

We aim to respond to all enquiries promptly.

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