Cookie Policy

1. Who We Are

This website is operated on behalf of St Michael and All Angels Church, Stoke Newington.

References in this Cookie Policy to “the Church”, “we”, “us” or “our” mean St Michael and All Angels Church, Stoke Newington and, where appropriate, its Parochial Church Council (PCC).

2. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer, tablet, mobile phone or other device when you visit a website.

Cookies allow websites to recognise a user's device and may be used to:

• Make a website function correctly;
• Remember preferences;
• Improve website performance;
• Understand how visitors use the website;
• Provide embedded services such as maps or videos;
• Support security and technical functionality.

Some cookies are deleted automatically when you close your browser, while others may remain on your device for a set period.

3. Types of Cookies We May Use

Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are required for the website to function properly.

They may be used for purposes such as:

• Website security;
• Page navigation;
• Remembering cookie consent choices;
• Protecting website forms;
• Maintaining basic website functionality;
• Preventing fraudulent or malicious activity.

Strictly necessary cookies cannot usually be disabled through our cookie controls because the website may not function properly without them.

Functional Cookies

Functional cookies help improve your experience by remembering choices or preferences.

They may remember:

• Cookie preferences;
• Accessibility preferences;
• Language settings;
• Information entered during a website session.

Analytics and Performance Cookies

We may use analytics cookies to understand how visitors use our website.

These cookies may collect information such as:

• Which pages are visited;
• How long visitors remain on a page;
• Which pages are most popular;
• How visitors arrived at the website;
• General device or browser information;
• Technical errors encountered while using the website.

This information helps us improve the website and understand how it is being used.

Where consent is required, analytics cookies will only be activated after you have given permission.

Third-Party Cookies

Some pages may include services provided by third parties.

These may include:

• Embedded maps;
• Video players;
• Payment or donation services;
• Social media features;
• Analytics services;
• Event or booking services;
• Other embedded website tools.

These third-party providers may place their own cookies on your device.

We do not directly control cookies placed by third-party websites or services. Their use of cookies is governed by their own privacy and cookie policies.

4. Cookie Categories

5. Cookies Used for Donations and Payments

Where our website provides links to or integrates external donation or payment services, those providers may use cookies to:

• Process transactions;
• Prevent fraud;
• Maintain security;
• Remember payment preferences;
• Comply with legal or regulatory requirements.

Cookies placed by an external payment provider are governed by that provider's own privacy and cookie policies.

6. Embedded Content

Pages on our website may contain embedded content from other websites.

This could include:

• Maps;
• Videos;
• Calendars;
• Social media content;
• External forms.

Embedded content may behave in a similar way to visiting the third-party website directly.

Those websites may collect information about you, use cookies, embed additional tracking technologies or monitor your interaction with their content.

7. Cookie Consent

Where required by law, we will ask for your consent before placing non-essential cookies on your device.

Strictly necessary cookies may be used without consent where they are required for the website to operate.

8. Changing Your Cookie Preferences

You can change or withdraw your cookie consent at any time through the cookie settings or consent controls available on our website.

Changing your preferences will not affect the lawfulness of any processing carried out before you withdrew your consent.

Depending on the website configuration, you may need to refresh the page after changing your preferences.

9. Managing Cookies Through Your Browser

Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings.

You can normally:

• View cookies stored on your device;
• Delete existing cookies;
• Block all cookies;
• Block third-party cookies;
• Allow cookies from selected websites;
• Configure your browser to notify you when a website wants to place a cookie.

The method for managing cookies varies depending on the browser you use. Please refer to your browser's privacy or help settings for instructions.

10. What Happens If You Disable Cookies?

If you disable all cookies, some parts of the website may not work as intended.

For example:

• Forms may not function correctly;
• Embedded maps or videos may not display;
• Preferences may not be remembered;
• Certain security functions may be affected;
• External payment or donation services may not operate correctly.

11. Personal Data and Cookies

Some cookies may involve the processing of personal data or online identifiers.

Where this happens, such information will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Statement and applicable UK data protection law.

Our Privacy Statement provides further information about how personal information may be collected, used, stored and protected.

12. Legal Basis for Using Cookies

Where cookies are strictly necessary for the operation of the website, we may use them without consent where permitted by law.

For non-essential cookies, such as analytics or certain third-party cookies, we will rely on your consent where required.

You may withdraw that consent at any time.

13. Third-Party Websites

Our website may contain links to external websites.

If you follow a link to another website, that website may use its own cookies.

We recommend reviewing the privacy and cookie policies of external websites you visit.

We are not responsible for the cookies, privacy practices or content of third-party websites.

14. How Long Cookies Remain on Your Device

Session Cookies

Session cookies are temporary and are usually deleted when you close your browser.

Persistent Cookies

Persistent cookies remain on your device for a set period or until you manually delete them.

The exact duration depends on the purpose of the cookie and the service that placed it.

15. Updates to This Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect:

• Changes to our website;
• Changes to the cookies or services we use;
• Changes to legal or regulatory requirements;
• Changes to third-party technologies.

The latest version will be published on this page together with the date it was last updated.

16. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Cookie Policy or the way cookies are used on our website, please contact us: