Privacy policy
Your data matters. This page sets out how Grace Fountain Church collects, uses, and protects the personal information you share with us.
Who we are
Grace Fountain Church (“GFC”, “we”, “our”, “us”) is a Christian church based at Coop Street, Scholes, Wigan, WN1 3NH. We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal data in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
What this policy covers
This policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, how long we keep it, and the rights you have over your data when you interact with us in person, through this website, or through our other services.
Information we collect
We collect personal data that you choose to share with us — for example, when you fill in a contact form, request prayer, sign up for updates, or plan a visit. This may include:
- Your name and contact details (email address, phone number, postal address)
- Information you share with us in messages or prayer requests
- Family details where you give us permission to record them (for children's ministry registration, safeguarding, and pastoral care)
- Records of giving and Gift Aid declarations, where applicable
- Basic website analytics (such as pages visited and approximate location) collected through privacy-respecting tools
How we use your information
We use the data you share with us to:
- Respond to your messages, prayer requests and questions
- Welcome you on a visit and look after children safely in our kids and youth programmes
- Send you the church updates you have asked to receive
- Administer giving, including Gift Aid where you have signed a declaration
- Keep the website running smoothly and securely
Legal basis
We rely on the following lawful bases under UK GDPR: your consent (for example, when you tick to subscribe to updates), legitimate interest (running church administration and safeguarding), legal obligation (financial and safeguarding records), and contract (where applicable, e.g. event registration).
Sharing your information
We do not sell your personal data. We will only share it with trusted third parties where it is necessary to provide a service to you (for example, our email or church-management platforms), or where required by law. Anyone we share data with is bound by appropriate data-protection agreements.
How long we keep data
We keep personal data only for as long as we need it for the purpose we collected it, after which it is securely deleted. Specific retention periods apply to financial records and safeguarding documentation, in line with statutory and best-practice requirements.
Your rights
Under UK GDPR you have the right to access the personal data we hold about you, to ask us to correct or delete it, to restrict or object to how we use it, and to receive a copy of your data in a portable format. You can also withdraw consent at any time where we rely on it.
To exercise any of these rights, please email [email protected] or write to us at the address above.
Cookies
Our website may use a small number of essential cookies to function correctly. We do not use cookies for advertising. Where any non-essential cookies are introduced, we will update this page and ask for your consent in advance.
Children's data
Information we hold relating to children — for example for crèche, SundayZone, or Youth Alive — is collected only with parental consent, kept securely, and used solely for safeguarding and pastoral purposes.
Concerns and complaints
If you have any concerns about how we handle your data, please contact us first at [email protected] so we can put things right. You also have the right to complain to the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ico.org.uk).