Martyn's Law for churches and places of worship

If your church is caught by Martyn’s Law at all, it sits in the Standard tier — and it stays there even when hundreds pack in for Christmas, Easter or a big funeral. Places of worship do not move up to the Enhanced tier the way most premises do. The first question, though, is whether you are in scope at all, and that comes down to numbers.

The short version

• A church is only in scope if 200 or more people may be present at the same time, from time to time. Many parish churches never reach that; cathedrals, large or popular churches and big festival services can.
• If you are in scope, you are in the Standard tier — simple procedures, not equipment.
• Places of worship stay in the Standard tier even at 800 or more. A packed carol service or Easter morning does not push you up into the Enhanced tier.
• No mandatory kit, no building works, no certified training, no consultant — see what you do not have to buy.
• The responsible person is whoever controls the building — usually the PCC, the trustees or the church leadership.
• It is not in force yet. Commencement is expected spring 2027 at the earliest.

Is my church in scope at all?

Only if it is reasonable to expect 200 or more people present at the same time, from time to time. Count the peak, not an ordinary Sunday — and count everyone in the building: the congregation, clergy, musicians, volunteers and visitors. A typical village church on a normal Sunday is comfortably under 200 and out of scope.

A cathedral, a large town-centre church, or any church whose carol service, Easter morning or patronal festival regularly fills the building can reach it. And if a single big service in the year is the only time you would hit 200, that still counts — the test is “from time to time”, not every week. Our guide how to work out if you reach 200 walks through the count, and it is worth writing down your reasoning either way.

Places of worship stay in the Standard tier — even at 800 or more

This is the part that matters most for churches. Most premises move up to the Enhanced tier, with heavier duties, once 800 people may be present at once. Places of worship do not. You stay in the Standard tier whatever the numbers — a packed carol service, an Easter morning, a funeral that fills every pew and the aisles behind them.

It is a deliberate exception, and only a few kinds of premises get it: places of worship, childcare, and primary, secondary and further education. So however big your biggest service gets, the planning the law asks of you is the lighter, procedures-based kind — not the Enhanced-tier measures.

So what does the Standard tier actually ask of us?

Two things, once the law is in force. First, notify the regulator (the SIA) that you are the responsible person for the premises — the portal for that is not open yet, so there is nothing to register today. Second, put simple public protection procedures in place, so far as is reasonably practicable: how you would get people out (evacuation), move them somewhere safer inside (invacuation), secure the building (lockdown), and tell people what to do (communication).

There is no mandatory equipment, no building works, no certified course and no consultant — see what you do not have to buy. For a church it comes down to knowing your exits, agreeing who takes charge, and working out how you would pass a clear, calm instruction to a full congregation.

Who is responsible — the PCC, the trustees or the minister?

Whoever has control of the building: possession of it, and the right and ability to make decisions about how it is run and used. In a Church of England parish that is usually the PCC; in other churches it is the trustees, the elders or the church leadership; a cathedral or a religious charity will have its own governance to point to. In practice it is the body that already looks after the building.

The Standard tier does not require you to name a “senior individual” — that is an Enhanced-tier duty, and places of worship do not go Enhanced. So there is no extra officer to appoint; it is the people who already hold responsibility for the premises.

What about the hall, weddings and concerts?

Two things worth keeping separate. Your church hall, let out for parties, classes and community use, follows the ordinary hire rules: the one-off hirer is usually not the responsible person — you, as the body in control, are. Our guide hall hire: who is responsible? covers that.

Second, a one-off ticketed event in the church — say a large concert with controlled entry and 800 or more people — can be a qualifying event in its own right, which is a separate category from the place-of-worship treatment. For ordinary worship, weddings and funerals, though, you stay firmly in the Standard tier.

You have time

Martyn’s Law is not in force yet. The statutory guidance was published on 15 April 2026, and commencement is expected in spring 2027 at the earliest, after a minimum 24-month implementation period. That is time to settle whether you are in scope and, if you are, to get simple plans in place calmly rather than against a deadline.

Where the definitive answer is

For definitive information about whether your premises or event is within scope and what is required, refer to the current statutory guidance issued under the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025.