Places of Worship Insurance
Places of worship are often old, frequently listed and usually looked after by trustees or a committee rather than a facilities team. Many are open during the day with nobody present, sit empty at night, and have valuable materials on the roof and in the building. That combination makes them a particular property risk, quite apart from what the building means to the people who use it.
Rebuilding is the first difficulty. A listed church, chapel or temple cannot be reinstated with modern materials, and the work needs specialist trades and consents. Sums insured that have not been reviewed for years can fall well short, and some congregations choose a different basis of cover for the main building because full reinstatement is unaffordable to insure.
Around the main building there is usually a hall, a kitchen, a car park and a programme of activities: toddler groups, community meals, lettings to clubs and private parties, and volunteers running much of it. Each brings liability exposures, and the arrangements for hirers, volunteers and anyone working with children or vulnerable adults should be reflected in the cover.
We can advise trustees, congregations and religious organisations on insuring the main building, halls and community spaces, their contents, and the liability that comes with opening them to the public.
Common claims and risk exposures
The exposures that produce claims in this trade, rather than a generic list.
Theft of metal from roofs
Lead, copper and other roofing metals are targeted on buildings that are isolated or unattended at night. The theft itself may be modest in scrap value, but water entering through a stripped roof can damage interiors, organs and fabric far beyond it. Many policies apply a specific limit to metal theft unless security measures such as roof alarms or forensic marking are in place.
Arson and malicious damage
Buildings left open or empty for long periods, and occasionally targeted because of what they represent, face arson and vandalism. Bins against walls, unlocked doors and poor lighting are the details insurers and fire services ask about.
Listed and historic fabric
Stonework, stained glass, timber roofs and decorative features may need specialist craftspeople and listed building consent to repair. Reinstatement takes longer and costs more than an ordinary building of the same size, and the sum insured has to reflect that.
Halls let to hirers
Halls are let to community groups, classes and private parties, who bring their own activities and sometimes their own catering and entertainment. Without clear hire terms, an injury during a hirer's event can end up as a claim against the trustees.
Volunteers and safeguarding
Much of the work is done by volunteers, including activities for children and vulnerable adults. Injuries to volunteers and allegations of abuse are both potential liability claims, and insurers will want to see that safeguarding policies, training and appropriate checks are in place.
The cover we arrange
We arrange insurance around the property, its use, construction, occupancy and ownership structure. The cover available will depend on the individual risk and the terms offered by insurers.
Buildings
The main building, halls, vestries, lych gates, boundary walls and other structures. For listed buildings the basis of settlement matters as much as the sum insured, and it is worth discussing full reinstatement against alternatives before a loss rather than after.
- Main building, halls and ancillary structures
- Listed fabric and specialist materials
- Boundary walls, gates and memorials where owned
- Professional fees and consent costs
Contents and heritage items
Furniture, organs, bells, sound and audio visual equipment, kitchen equipment, and items of historic or religious significance. High value items such as plate, artworks and rare books should be specified individually with valuations.
- Organs, bells and musical instruments
- Specified valuables and heritage items
- AV, streaming and sound systems
- Hall and kitchen equipment
Public liability
Injury to worshippers, visitors and the public in the building, grounds and car park, and at activities organised by the congregation. Churchyards and burial grounds bring their own exposures from uneven ground and leaning memorials.
- Services, events and community activities
- Grounds, car parks and churchyards
- Activities organised by the congregation
- Limits often £5m or £10m
Employers' liability and volunteers
Employers' liability is a legal requirement once you employ people, such as a caretaker, administrator or musician, and can be arranged where required, subject to the policy terms. Many policies can also extend cover to volunteers, which should be checked rather than assumed.
- Paid staff where employed
- Volunteers where the policy extends to them
- Personal accident cover for helpers
- Arranged subject to policy terms
Abuse and safeguarding liability
Defence costs and damages arising from allegations of abuse in connection with the organisation's activities. Wordings vary considerably, particularly in how historic allegations are treated, and cover usually depends on safeguarding procedures being followed.
- Allegations against staff or volunteers
- Defence costs included where covered
- Historic allegations depending on the wording
- Often a separate limit
What an underwriter will ask
Having these to hand shortens the process considerably, and usually improves the terms.
- Age and construction of the building, and whether it is listed and at what grade
- Roof covering, any lead or copper, and whether roof alarms or forensic marking are used
- Opening hours, whether the building is left open unattended, and lock up arrangements
- Intruder and fire alarms, whether monitored, and external lighting
- Halls and other buildings, how often they are hired out, and the hire terms used
- Activities run for children or vulnerable adults and the safeguarding arrangements in place
- Number of paid staff and volunteers
- High value contents and heritage items, and when they were last valued
What affects the cost of your insurance?
The main factors insurers consider when assessing the premium.
Listed status and reinstatement value
The grade of listing, the construction and the materials set the reinstatement figure, which drives the property premium more than the floor area does.
Security against theft and arson
Roof alarms, forensic marking, intruder alarms, lighting and good lock up routines are taken into account, particularly for buildings in isolated or high theft areas.
Use of halls and community activities
A building used only for services rates differently from one hosting daily community groups, regular lettings and events with catering. The more people and activities, the greater the liability exposure.
Claims history
Previous metal theft, vandalism or escape of water claims will be considered, along with what has been done since to prevent a repeat.
Conditions and exclusions to consider
Terms vary between insurers, so treat these as the questions to ask rather than a description of any one policy.
Metal theft above the stated limit
Theft of roof metal is often subject to a sublimit, sometimes increased where specified security is in place. Where the condition requires an alarm or marking and it has not been installed or maintained, the claim may be restricted.
Hirers' own activities
The trustees' policy covers their liability as the owner. A hirer running a fitness class, a party or a market should generally hold their own public liability, and hire agreements that require it reduce the chance of the trustees picking up the claim.
Gradual deterioration of old fabric
Decay in stonework, failing timbers, damp and slipped slates on an ageing roof are maintenance matters. Quinquennial or periodic inspection reports are a useful record of what has been done.
Building left unoccupied
A place of worship that closes, merges with another congregation or stops regular services may fall under unoccupied property terms, which commonly restrict cover for theft, malicious damage and escape of water.
Common questions
Our building is listed. Do we have to insure it for full rebuild cost?
Not always. Some congregations choose a basis of settlement that reflects what they would actually build after a total loss, because full reinstatement of a large listed building can be very expensive to insure. The implications for partial losses and for consent requirements need careful discussion before choosing.
Are our volunteers covered?
Many policies can extend liability and personal accident cover to volunteers, but it depends on the wording. It is worth confirming that volunteers are included and what activities they are covered for, especially for tasks such as working at height or maintaining grounds.
Do people who hire our hall need their own insurance?
For anything beyond small private gatherings, it is sensible to require hirers to have their own public liability, particularly commercial instructors, entertainers and caterers. Some insurers can offer limited cover for casual hirers, which can help with occasional private bookings.
Will insurers ask about safeguarding?
Yes, where the congregation runs activities for children or vulnerable adults. They are likely to ask about a written safeguarding policy, training, appropriate checks on those in regulated roles and how concerns are reported. Abuse liability cover is often conditional on those procedures being in place and followed.
What can we do to reduce the risk of lead theft?
Roof alarms, forensic marking of metal, good lighting and restricting access to roofs from walls and scaffolding are the usual measures, and some insurers set them as conditions for full metal theft cover. Replacing stolen lead with a less attractive material may need consent on a listed building.
How do I get a quote from True Risk Solutions?
Call 01304 262880 and speak to a broker, or email info@truerisksolutions.co.uk with what you do, what you need cover for and a phone number with the best time to call, and a broker will call you back. We need a phone number to quote, because the cover and the price depend on questions that are quicker to answer on a call than by email.
Speak to a specialist who understands your industry
Tell us about your business and the work you undertake, and we will come back to you with cover options built around it. Call 01304 262880, or email us with a phone number and the best time to call and a broker will ring you back.