Privacy Policy
Knights Templar Grand Priory of England & Wales
(Autonomous Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem)
Last updated: 21 October 2026
1. Introduction
The Knights Templar Grand Priory of England and Wales (“we”, “us”, “our” or “the Order”) is committed to protecting your personal data and respecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, share and protect your personal information when you visit our website, contact us, enquire about membership, support our charitable work, or otherwise interact with us.
We process personal data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018, and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR).
2. Who We Are (Data Controller)
The data controller responsible for your personal data is:
Knights Templar Grand Priory of England and Wales
[Insert full postal address]
Email: [Insert official email address]
Telephone: [Insert telephone number]
If you have any questions about this policy or how we handle your data, please contact us using the details above.
3. Personal Data We Collect
We may collect and process the following categories of personal data:
• Identity data: title, full name, date of birth, and any previous names.
• Contact data: postal address, email address, and telephone numbers.
• Membership and enquiry data: information you provide when enquiring about or applying for membership, including reasons for interest, background, and any supporting details.
• Communication data: records of correspondence, enquiries, and interactions with us.
• Technical data: IP address, browser type and version, device information, time zone, operating system, and other technology on the devices you use to access our website.
• Usage data: information about how you use our website, pages visited, and navigation paths.
• Marketing and communications data: your preferences for receiving communications from us.
• Donation and financial data: if you make a donation or payment, limited payment-related information (note: we do not store full card details; these are processed by secure third-party payment providers).
• Event and volunteering data: details relevant to events, fundraising activities, or volunteering opportunities.
We do not routinely collect special category data (such as religious belief beyond what is inherent in membership of a Christian Order, health data, or similar). If such data is provided voluntarily, we will process it only with your explicit consent or where another lawful basis applies.
4. How We Collect Your Data
We collect personal data in the following ways:
• Directly from you when you complete enquiry or contact forms, apply for membership, subscribe to updates, make a donation, register for an event, or correspond with us.
• Automatically via cookies and similar technologies when you visit our website (see Cookies section below). • From third parties in limited circumstances (for example, payment processors confirming a successful transaction).
5. Lawful Bases for Processing
We process your personal data only where we have a lawful basis under UK GDPR. These include:
• Consent – where you have given clear consent (e.g. marketing emails or certain form submissions).
• Contract – where processing is necessary to take steps at your request prior to entering a membership relationship or to perform a contract with you.
• Legitimate interests – where processing is necessary for our legitimate interests (or those of a third party) and your interests and fundamental rights do not override those interests. Examples include responding to enquiries, improving our website, preventing fraud, and managing our membership and charitable activities.
• Legal obligation – where we need to comply with a legal or regulatory requirement.
6. How We Use Your Personal Data
We use your personal data for the following purposes:
• To respond to enquiries and provide information about the Order, membership, and our activities.
• To process membership applications and administer membership.
• To manage donations, fundraising, events, and volunteering.
• To send administrative communications about your involvement with the Order.
• To send marketing or informational communications where you have consented or where we have a legitimate interest and you have not opted out.
• To improve and secure our website and services.
• To comply with legal and regulatory obligations.
7. Cookies and Similar Technologies
Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to distinguish you from other users, improve your experience, and help us understand how the site is used.
We use:
• Strictly necessary cookies (required for the site to function).
• Analytical/performance cookies (to understand how visitors use the site).
• Functionality cookies (to remember your preferences).
You can control cookies through your browser settings. For more detailed information, please see our separate Cookie Policy (or the cookie notice on our website).
8. Sharing Your Personal Data
We do not sell your personal data.
We may share your data with:
• Service providers who assist us (e.g. website hosting, email service providers, payment processors, IT support) under strict contractual obligations.
• Professional advisers (lawyers, accountants) where necessary.
• Regulators, law enforcement, or other authorities where required by law.
• Other members or officers of the Order strictly on a need-to-know basis for legitimate Order purposes.
Any third parties are required to respect the security of your data and process it only in accordance with our instructions and applicable law.
9. International Transfers
Your personal data is primarily processed within the United Kingdom. If we transfer data outside the UK, we will ensure appropriate safeguards are in place (such as the UK International Data Transfer Agreement or adequacy regulations) to protect your information to a standard equivalent to UK data protection law.
10. Data Retention
We retain personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, including satisfying legal, accounting, or reporting requirements.
Typical retention periods:
• Membership and enquiry records: for the duration of membership/interest plus a reasonable period thereafter (usually up to 6–7 years after last contact, subject to legal requirements).
• Financial and donation records: as required by law (normally 6–7 years).
• Website technical logs: usually no longer than 12–24 months.
• Marketing preferences: until you withdraw consent or opt out.
When data is no longer required, it will be securely deleted or anonymised.
11. Your Rights
Under UK data protection law you have the following rights:
• Right of access – to request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Right to rectification – to request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
• Right to erasure (“right to be forgotten”) – in certain circumstances.
• Right to restriction of processing – in certain circumstances.
• Right to data portability – to receive your data in a structured, commonly used format.
• Right to object – to processing based on legitimate interests or to direct marketing.
• Right to withdraw consent – where processing is based on consent, at any time. • Right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details in Section 2. We will respond within one month (or as otherwise required by law).
You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office
(ICO) at ico.org.uk or by telephone on 0303 123 1113.
12. Data Security
We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorised or unlawful processing, accidental loss, destruction, or damage. These measures include secure servers, access controls, encryption where appropriate, and staff training.
While we take data security seriously, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.
13. Children’s Privacy
Our website and activities are not directed at children under 18. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such data, please contact us so we can delete it promptly.
14. Marketing Communications
We will only send you marketing or promotional communications where you have consented or where we are permitted to do so under PECR and UK GDPR. You can opt out at any time by using the unsubscribe link in our emails or by contacting us directly.
15. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The updated version will be posted on this page with a revised “Last updated” date. We encourage you to review this page periodically. Significant changes may be notified to you by email where appropriate.
16. Contact Us If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices,
please contact:
Knights Templar Grand Priory of England and Wales
Email: [Insert email]
Postal address: [Insert full address].