Church Clerk
| Posting date: | 11 August 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £26,770 per year, pro rata |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 10 September 2025 |
| Location: | WC2R 1DH |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Ministry of Defence |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: |
Summary
St Clement Danes is the spiritual home of the Royal Air Force, and a living memorial for both the Service and the Nation as well as a symbol of the abiding courage and spiritual fortitude of Royal Air Force personnel. The building (Grade 1 listed) is both a place for private pilgrimage and national ceremony. It is an extremely high profile and significant sacred space for the whole RAF community, and others, both nationally and internationally.
The Clerk plays a vital role in ensuring that St Clement Danes, a national treasure, remains fit for purpose for the 21st century; supporting and facilitating the day-to-day operations of the central church upholding the community, the spiritual needs of the Royal Air Force, and facilitating support to the public. By doing this we ensure that St Clement Danes remains a living memorial paying tribute to the highest professional standards.
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.
TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Primary duties
Administrative:
- Act as an administrative point of contact for St Clement Danes providing clerical support where required.
- Financial administration: manage elements of church accounts and prepare returns. Maintain clear and up to date records of donations, gift aid details, purchases and sales.
- Ensure there is a clear audit trail in the church accounts and prepare papers for audits.
- Manage the church diary bookings, meetings, services, events, use of space and appointments. Manage Resident Chaplain’s diary.
- Coordinate with the RAF printers for timely preparation and printing of orders of service.
- Coordinate with RAF Northolt stores and stationery for church supplies.
- Facilitate a ‘smarter’ working environment that uses technology.
- Provide administrative support to facilitate the hire of the church for public and RAF events.
- Follow church building policy and methods for tasks. Scope for independent action where necessary.
Management of staff:
- Ability to work autonomously in the absence of the Church Manager or Resident Chaplain.
- Oversee the church stewards team: monitor stewards team outputs, schedule steward rotas and coordinate work.
Church building support:
- Support the Board of Trustees, the Resident Chaplain and Church Manager in the custody and maintenance of the church building.
- Support health and safety processes and maintenance tasks.
- Oversee contractors during maintenance and repair work on the church and maintain clear record of works.
- Provide support to the Resident Chaplain as the inventory holder and as deputy maintain historically significant inventory records for annual inspection.
Public facing:
- St Clement Danes is open to the public and the Clerk is a public facing role: showing initiative when interacting with the Whole Force, veterans and civilian engagement.
- Communicate with a range of people using different forms of communication, e.g. written, e-mail, telephone and face to face.
- Communicate procedures on services and events at the church, e.g. marriages, funerals, baptisms, church hire.
Working as a team:
- Deputise for the Church Manager.
- Support the Resident Chaplain in coordinating chaplaincy business.
- Complete other tasks reasonably required by the Resident Chaplain and Church Manager.
- Show initiative in creating positive solutions for issues that may arise.
Please note, candidates will be redirected to the Civil Service Jobs website where you will need to submit your application form. Please note the closing date above is incorrect and cannot be amended so please check the closing date on Civil Service Jobs and allow enough time to submit your application form.
The Clerk plays a vital role in ensuring that St Clement Danes, a national treasure, remains fit for purpose for the 21st century; supporting and facilitating the day-to-day operations of the central church upholding the community, the spiritual needs of the Royal Air Force, and facilitating support to the public. By doing this we ensure that St Clement Danes remains a living memorial paying tribute to the highest professional standards.
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.
TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Primary duties
Administrative:
- Act as an administrative point of contact for St Clement Danes providing clerical support where required.
- Financial administration: manage elements of church accounts and prepare returns. Maintain clear and up to date records of donations, gift aid details, purchases and sales.
- Ensure there is a clear audit trail in the church accounts and prepare papers for audits.
- Manage the church diary bookings, meetings, services, events, use of space and appointments. Manage Resident Chaplain’s diary.
- Coordinate with the RAF printers for timely preparation and printing of orders of service.
- Coordinate with RAF Northolt stores and stationery for church supplies.
- Facilitate a ‘smarter’ working environment that uses technology.
- Provide administrative support to facilitate the hire of the church for public and RAF events.
- Follow church building policy and methods for tasks. Scope for independent action where necessary.
Management of staff:
- Ability to work autonomously in the absence of the Church Manager or Resident Chaplain.
- Oversee the church stewards team: monitor stewards team outputs, schedule steward rotas and coordinate work.
Church building support:
- Support the Board of Trustees, the Resident Chaplain and Church Manager in the custody and maintenance of the church building.
- Support health and safety processes and maintenance tasks.
- Oversee contractors during maintenance and repair work on the church and maintain clear record of works.
- Provide support to the Resident Chaplain as the inventory holder and as deputy maintain historically significant inventory records for annual inspection.
Public facing:
- St Clement Danes is open to the public and the Clerk is a public facing role: showing initiative when interacting with the Whole Force, veterans and civilian engagement.
- Communicate with a range of people using different forms of communication, e.g. written, e-mail, telephone and face to face.
- Communicate procedures on services and events at the church, e.g. marriages, funerals, baptisms, church hire.
Working as a team:
- Deputise for the Church Manager.
- Support the Resident Chaplain in coordinating chaplaincy business.
- Complete other tasks reasonably required by the Resident Chaplain and Church Manager.
- Show initiative in creating positive solutions for issues that may arise.
Please note, candidates will be redirected to the Civil Service Jobs website where you will need to submit your application form. Please note the closing date above is incorrect and cannot be amended so please check the closing date on Civil Service Jobs and allow enough time to submit your application form.