I Care For A Church
Many churches live happily with their resident bats, and bats can be a fantastic way to engage with your local community, especially those who may not otherwise visit a church.
Finding bats in your church is unlikely to stop you from carrying out works or repairs and there is almost no risk that your congregation will catch any disease from bats in the church.
However we understand that in some cases, bats can cause severe problems inside churches. The project has worked with more than 100 churches across England. We've worked alongside qualified bat ecologists, church architects and heritage professionals, using the latest research to create bespoke solutions and reduce the impact created by bats without harming their populations.
Solutions so far include major bat mitigation projects, providing protection for historic monuments, and simple training and advice on cleaning. We've also helped churches use their bats as an method of engagement, encouraging the local community to appreciate their ecological significance.
This section includes a range of resources for anyone who cares for a church: advice on works, fundraising options, cleaning advice and training, and resources for schools, events and fundraising.
For more advice and information download our HELP AND ADVICE FOR CHURCHES WITH BATS booklet
Finding bats in your church does not have to be cause for concern. Most churches with bats live with them quite happily, and it is still possible to carry out major works, maintenance and repairs to a church that has bats
The National Bat Helpline can provide free advice for places of worship with bats, and may be able to organise for a Volunteer Bat Roost Visitor to come to your church. For some works you will need a licence and may need to employ a professional ecologist. You will find more details in the Planning Works With Bats section below
There is almost no risk of catching transmissible diseases from bats in the UK. There is a very small risk of catching rabies if you handle a bat, and we would always recommend wearing gloves if you have to pick up a grounded bat. If your congregation is worried about bats and disease, we have a webinar on Bats and Disease, or you can read our blog Bats and Disease
If bats are causing extra cleaning, or causing damage to particular items in your church please see our cleaning advice and guidelines below
We would also encourage churches with bats to make a link with their local Bat Group. They may be able to help survey the church, give you advice and may be able to provide support at events or help with a fundraising bat walk
If you have found a grounded, sick or injured bat in your church please call the National Bat Helpline on 0345 1300 228.
Download our RECORDING YOUR CHURCH BATS booklet for a guide to recording your church bats.
Understanding which bats are using your church is vital:
- The more you know about your bats in advance of any works or maintenance the better, as the easier it will be to plan and arrange works, repairs, activities and bat mitigation.
- Bats can be a great tool for engagement with the local community. It's easier to carry out bat-related events when you know more about them.
You can find links to a range of bat surveys at Survey Your Local Church For Bats
You can also find video guides to identifying bats and how to link with the National Bat Monitoring Programme on our eLearning portal.
Download our Cleaning Guidelines
Cleaning bat droppings and urine can be unpleasant and time consuming for all churches, and heavy cleaning may in fact damage delicate items
You cannot catch any disease directly from bat droppings but we would always recommend wearing a dusk mask in case of fungal spores, and some people may develop an allergy to the droppings
Our Cleaning Guidelines contains detailed and practical advice and cleaning recommendations for any church with bats.
You can also find a video guide to cleaning our church on our eLearning Portal
We also have a guide to making loose, protective covers for your pews or other items Protective Pew Covers
You should seek advice about bats before planning any work or repairs at your church. If you plan properly and have the correct advice, bats will rarely prevent you from carrying out planned works at the right time
Bats may seem common but our UK bat populations are still in danger and all British bats are legally protected. It is an offence to deliberately capture, injure or kill bats, damage or destroy a breeding or resting place, obstruct access to their resting or sheltering places and intentionally or recklessly disturb a bat while it is in a place of shelter
Discovering or disturbing a bat unexpectedly can lead to work having to stop, increase cost, and potentially incur a fine or criminal record
If the work will involve disturbing the bats or causing any change to their roost then you will need a licence from Natural England to carry out the work. In some cases you may need to show your bat licence in order to be granted Faculty.
Usually the first step is to call the National Bat Helpline on 0345 1300 228 which provides a free advice service to places of worship. When you call please have all your details to hand, including a description of the works you want to carry out and any information you have about your bats.
If your works are more complex you may have to hire a professional ecologist. They will be able to help you apply for the relevant bat licence, or may be able to carry out work under their own professional licence
Your Diocese may be able to recommend an ecologist who is experienced in working with churches, or you can find an accredited ecologist on the CIEEM website
If bats are causing serious damage or disruption to your church you may want to consider some options for bat mitigation
In many cases, covers, canopies, sails and trays can be installed to catch bat droppings and protect individual items. This is a comparatively low cost option that gives immediate results.
Depending on the species of bat, it may be possible to enclose them in a roost or void, usually in the roof space or in the tower and then block their access to the interior of the church. This work has to be carried out under a licence from Natural England and the new Bats In Churches Class Licence may help you trial new types of mitigation
This approach can be incredibly effective but it can take a number of years and will need long term monitoring and adaptation by a professional ecologist in order to be successful
Examples of Bat Mitigation In Some of Our Project Churches
You can find a range of case studies on mitigation, heritage works and engaging church with bats on our Case Studies, Reports and Resources section
Installing bat boxes as part of a bat mitigation programme does not in itself require a faculty, but we would recommend you consult with your Diocese, especially if the bat box will be clearly visible. Additional works such as wiring for heat mats and cameras may require List B permission or full faculty
With any bat mitigation work we would encourage you to make sure that everyone involved, ecologist, architects, PCC, heritage specialists and the Diocese work together from the very start of the project
There are few dedicated resources for directly funding mitigation work in churches with bats, however there are a number of ways bat mitigation might be eligible for funding. Try looking for funders who support-
Protecting and preserving heritage, preventative conservation
Community projects, especially if bats are preventing community use of your church
Biodiversity, wildlife and habitats
Many churches find that community fundraising using bats can be very successful, and can reach a new audience who would not normally donate to a church. You could consider a bat event, and some churches have run very successful 'Sponsor A Bat' campaigns
In many cases it will be cheaper to install bat mitigation as part of a repair, roof replacement or other project rather than a stand-alone project
Church Of England Guidance And Advice On Fundraising
National Churches Trust Guidance And Advice On Fundraising
National Lottery Community Fund
MyCommunity Searchable Database of Funders
Having bats in your church can be a fantastic way of encouraging visitors, and a fascinating subject for schools, events, talks and bat walks. Some churches even produce their own bat merchandise for sale
Your local Bat Group, Wildlife Trust or Mammal Group might be able to help you run a bat walk at your church
Kit List For Running A Bat Walk
Bat Masks & Stained Glass Colouring Sheets
Other Play And Creative Ideas, Games and Recipes
Bats In Churches Challenge Badge for Brownies, Scouts and Other Groups
We have a range of free, short online courses to help churches recruit volunteers, plan events and create interpretation such as guidebooks and signage
The courses take between an hour and an hour and a half and can be done in short modules. The courses are available with both text and audio commentary. You can access them through our eLearning Portal
If you would like to know more about our work in churches near you, then see our Project Churches Map.
Each church page has some more information, a short case study and, where we have carried out major works, more details and contact information.