Martyn's Law for churches and places of worship
Places of worship are a Schedule 1 use, so a church is in scope for Martyn's Law if 200 or more people may reasonably be expected at the same time, including clergy, staff and volunteers. Count your busiest recurring services and festivals, not just an average week. Certain events at places of worship are excluded from being qualifying events, but the premises can still be qualifying premises under their use, so confirm the exact exclusion before relying on it. A church in scope is usually standard tier, which needs procedures, not equipment (as at 12 July 2026).
Is your church in scope?
Places of worship are on the Schedule 1 list of uses that can bring a premises into scope. So a church, chapel, mosque, synagogue, temple or gurdwara is caught if it reaches the capacity threshold. That threshold is the greatest number of people reasonably expected at the same time, from time to time: under 200 is out of scope on capacity, 200 to 799 is standard tier, and 800 or more is enhanced tier.
Festivals and big services are the point to count from. An average Sunday might be well under 200, but Christmas, Easter, a major festival, a large funeral or a civic service can be far busier. The number is your recurring peak, and it includes clergy, wardens, musicians, stewards and volunteers, not just the congregation. See how to count your capacity.
The events exclusion, carefully
Martyn's Law treats standalone qualifying events separately from premises. Certain events at places of worship are excluded from being qualifying events. But that exclusion is about the separate "qualifying event" category; the premises themselves may still be qualifying premises under their ordinary use as a place of worship, and the premises duties can still apply. In other words, an excluded event does not automatically mean the church is out of scope. Because this is a precise point in Schedule 2, confirm the exact wording before you conclude that you are exempt.
Who is the responsible person?
The responsible person is the individual, organisation or body with control of the premises for its use as a place of worship. Depending on the denomination and how the building is governed, that may be the incumbent, the parochial church council, the trustees, or an equivalent body. Where more than one party has control, responsibility can be shared, and each must play its part. If the responsible person is an organisation, a senior individual must be designated at enhanced tier, though most places of worship in scope will be standard tier.
What a standard-tier church must do
- Notify the SIA that you are responsible for the premises.
- Put appropriate procedures in place across the four areas: evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication. See the four standard procedures.
- Make sure clergy, wardens, stewards and regular volunteers know the procedures.
The Act does not require building works or equipment at standard tier, which matters for historic and listed buildings, and no written document is legally required at standard tier, although a short plan and a briefing for those who help run services is good practice.
Practical first steps
- Count your realistic peak, including everyone who helps run your busiest recurring services and festivals.
- Decide whether that puts you under 200 (out of scope), 200 to 799 (standard) or 800 or more (enhanced).
- If you might be exempt through an events exclusion, check the exact Schedule 2 wording rather than assume.
- If in scope, plan your evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication, and brief your team.
- Re-check nearer commencement, expected spring 2027, in case the guidance is updated.
Frequently asked questions
Is my church in scope for Martyn's Law?
It is if 200 or more people may reasonably be expected at the same time, including clergy, staff and volunteers. Count your busiest recurring services and festivals, such as Christmas and Easter, not just an average Sunday.
Are events at a church excluded from Martyn's Law?
Certain events at places of worship are excluded from being qualifying events, but the premises themselves may still be qualifying premises under their use. Confirm the exact exclusion wording in Schedule 2 before relying on it.
What must a church at standard tier do?
Notify the SIA and put appropriate procedures in place for evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication. No building works or equipment are required, and no written document is legally required at standard tier.
Sources
- Home Office statutory guidance Schedule 1 uses (including places of worship), the tiers, the duties and the Schedule 2 exclusions. gov.uk statutory guidance
- Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 The Act, including the responsible-person and qualifying-event provisions. legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2025/10
- Assessment of the number of individuals factsheet How to count your capacity. gov.uk capacity factsheet
Content current as at 12 July 2026. Guidance can be updated before commencement; confirm any exclusion against the Act before relying on it.
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