Copyright Guide for Streamed Worship

Who is this guide for?

This guide is for anyone involved in streaming or recording worship services in a Methodist church — whether you're a minister, a tech volunteer, a church steward, or someone who's been asked to "sort out the streaming." It explains what copyright licences you need, what each one covers, and what you can and can't do.

We've written it in plain English. Where we reference specific legislation or licensing terms, we link to the source so you can check the detail.

This is a summary. When relying on a specific licence, always check the licensing body's full terms and conditions carefully.

We outline the permissions required for worship services only. The licences covered here do not extend to other Church-related activities such as community events, entertainment, fundraising, or training materials.

Jurisdictional scope

This guide covers the law in England, Wales and Scotland, where the Methodist Church in Britain operates. The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 applies across the United Kingdom, so the core copyright principles are consistent across all three nations.

Methodist churches in the Isle of Man, Channel Islands and Gibraltar should be aware that these territories have their own copyright legislation (broadly modelled on UK law but separately enacted). The licensing guidance in this document is likely to apply in practice, but churches in these territories should confirm with the relevant licensing body (CCLI, PRS, PPL) that their licences cover their jurisdiction.

The short version

If your church streams worship services, you almost certainly need at least two licences:

• A CCLI Streaming Licence (covers the songs and lyrics you perform and display)
• A PRS Digital Music Licence for Worship (covers music rights on platforms like Zoom, Teams and your own website)

If you only stream on YouTube or Facebook, you may only need the CCLI Streaming Licence, because those platforms have their own agreements with PRS.

If you play recorded music (CDs, Spotify, backing tracks) in your streams, you need a CCLI Streaming Plus Licence as well.

If your church uses hymns from Taize, Iona, or publishers like Oxford University Press, Kevin Mayhew and Stainer and Bell, you almost certainly also need OneLicense — these publishers are not covered by CCLI. This is particularly important for Methodist churches: many hymns in Singing the Faith come from OneLicense publishers, not CCLI.

The rest of this guide explains why, and walks you through the common scenarios.

How to use this guide

In a hurry? Skip to Part 3: Common scenarios and find the situation that matches yours. The earlier parts explain the underlying licences and the law when you want the detail.

Part 1: Understanding copyright in worship

Why does copyright apply to church services?

Copyright protects the creative work of songwriters, composers, authors and publishers. When you sing a hymn, display lyrics on a screen, or play a piece of music, you are using someone's creative work. In most cases, the law requires you to have permission (a licence) to do so.

There is a common belief that church services are exempt from copyright. This is not true. There is no statutory exemption for worship in the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

What churches commonly call "the exemption" is actually a voluntary waiver by PRS for Music and PPL — they choose not to charge for music performed during in-person worship. This is a commercial decision, not a legal right. It could be withdrawn at any time.

There was once a limited statutory protection. Section 67 of the CDPA 1988 exempted non-profit organisations whose main objects included "the advancement of religion" from copyright when playing sound recordings. However, section 67 was repealed on 1 January 2011 by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (Amendment) Regulations 2010. Since then, churches have been entirely dependent on the voluntary PRS/PPL waiver (other than where works are in the public domain) for in-person worship and on commercial licences for everything else.

Crucially, the PRS/PPL waiver applies only to in-person worship. It does not extend to streaming or recording. The moment you stream a service online or upload a recording, you are making a "communication to the public" under section 20 of the CDPA 1988 and the waiver does not apply.

This is the single most important point in this guide: what is allowed in person is not automatically allowed online.

There is also a common misconception that small amounts of copying are permitted, or that public performances of copyright work are allowed under "fair use" or "fair dealing". "Fair use" is a US doctrine that does not apply to the UK. UK law has "fair dealing", which is much narrower — it covers specific purposes such as research, review or criticism. There are no copyright exceptions that apply to either in-person or streamed worship services.

Sources: CDPA 1988, s.67 (enacted, now repealed); CDPA 1988 (Amendment) Regulations 2010; CDPA 1988, s.20; Law and Religion UK

Five types of copyright in music

Understanding the different types of copyright helps you understand why you might need more than one licence. Music is largely protected by five separate rights:

1. Performance right — the right to perform a musical work in public (live singing, playing an instrument)
2. Reproduction right — the right to reproduce lyrics or sheet music (printing words in a service sheet, displaying on screen)
3. Mechanical right — the right to record a musical work (recording your service)
4. Synchronisation right — the right to combine music with visual content (putting music over a video)
5. Master recording right — the right to use a specific recording of a song (playing a CD or digital track)

When you stream a service with live music and lyrics on screen, you are exercising at least the first three of these rights. Different licences cover different rights.

Typographical arrangements — a separate right

In addition to the five rights above, UK copyright law recognises a separate right in the typographical arrangement of a published edition. This protects the layout of a published score or songbook itself — the specific way the music has been engraved and laid out on the page — independently of the underlying composition.

In practice, this matters when your church photocopies, scans, or digitally reproduces sheet music or hymnbook pages, rather than when you sing or stream a hymn.

If you are scanning hymnbook pages (for example, to display sheet music to organists or musicians during a streamed service), you are exercising the typographical-arrangement right as well as the underlying music copyright. This is covered by the CCLI Music Reproduction Licence for music in CCLI's catalogue, or by direct permission from the publisher otherwise. The CLA Church Licence does not cover music.

This right does not affect singing a hymn from memory, performing it live, or displaying lyrics-only on a screen — those engage the other rights covered elsewhere in this guide.

Performers' rights — a separate layer

The law gives performers control over whether their performances are recorded or shared online. Under Part II of the CDPA 1988, performers have the right to consent to (or refuse) the recording and broadcasting of their live performances. These rights exist independently of the copyright in the underlying work.

What this means in practice:

• Musicians (organists, worship band members, choir members, soloists) have performers' rights in their live performance. Their consent is needed to record or stream the service.
• Preachers are likely to have performers' rights in the delivery of a sermon. Section 19(2)(a) CDPA explicitly includes "sermons" in the definition of performance, and preachers delivering sermons are performing a literary work.
• Methodist ministers are office-holders, not employees (Preston v President of the Methodist Conference [2013] UKSC 29). This means they retain copyright in their own sermons — the Church does not automatically own what ministers write. Their performers' rights in the delivery are also personal to them.

In most cases, implied consent is likely. If a preacher or musician knows the service is being streamed and participates without objection, this probably constitutes implied consent. But it is always better to ask explicitly — see the Recording Consent and Accessibility Guide for practical guidance on how to do this well.

Performers and personal data

In addition to copyright and performers' rights, there is a data-protection layer to think about. Where the performer can be identified, footage of them constitutes personal data under UK GDPR.

For that reason, it is important to explain to all performers:

• How they will feature in any streamed content
• Who will have access to the recording
• How long the recording will be held

Where content features children under the age of 13, you should include their parents or guardians in the conversation and check they are happy for the performance to be streamed.

See the Recording Consent and Accessibility Guide for templates and practical guidance.

Part 2: The licences you need

Overview

There are six licensing bodies and schemes that matter for Methodist churches streaming worship:

Three other licences exist that you may already hold but that do NOT cover streaming:

These in-building licences are often the source of the confusion — churches assume that because they "have a music licence," streaming is covered. It is not.

CCLI Church Copyright Licence

What it covers: Reproducing song lyrics — in printed service sheets, on-screen projection, in bulletins. Recording songs performed in a live worship service. This is the foundation licence.

What it does NOT cover: Streaming, recording for distribution, or any online use; playing recorded music; photocopying from hymnbooks (that needs the Music Reproduction Licence).

Repertoire: Over 300,000 songs from participating publishers. Use CCLI's SongSelect facility to search by title. If your initial search doesn't show the song you're looking for, tick "Expand search to show all songs" for more results. If there's still no match, the song is likely not covered.

Important: You cannot charge a fee for reproducing or recording the content. You may make a small administrative charge to cover production cost. Exact limits are set out in CCLI's Terms of Agreement.

Cost: Tiered by the number of people in your congregation. Check current pricing at uk.ccli.com.

You need this if: Your church projects or prints song words for worship.

CCLI Streaming Licence

What it covers: Live streaming and recording of worship services containing CCLI-covered songs, on YouTube and Facebook (or similar platforms which have the ability for the copyright holder to monetise and place ads on videos). You can display lyrics on screen during the stream, and archived recordings can remain available indefinitely as long as you renew the licence.

What it does NOT cover: Streaming on Zoom, Teams, your own website, or any other platform that does not have its own pre-existing PRS arrangement. Playing commercial recordings in streams (that needs Streaming Plus).

Prerequisite: You must hold a Church Copyright Licence.

Important: This licence covers the composition (the words and music as written), not a specific recording. So it covers your organist playing a hymn and your congregation singing it. It does not cover you playing a Hillsong CD during the stream.

You cannot stream any songs and/or video content where there is a financial charge for attending the event — and this includes donations.

Cost: Additional tier on top of your Church Copyright Licence. Request a quote from CCLI.

You need this if: Your church streams services on YouTube or Facebook that include worship music.

CCLI Streaming Plus Licence

What it covers: Everything in the Streaming Licence plus the ability to include commercially recorded music in streams — playing worship song tracks, using multitracks for your band, or including pre-recorded music.

What it does NOT cover: Still limited to YouTube and Facebook (or similar platforms which have the ability for the copyright holder to monetise and place ads on videos). Coverage depends on participating labels — not every recording is included.

To confirm if a song is covered:

• For a song you've played live, identify the song's publisher, then check the Streaming Licence — Covered Catalogues list
• For a song's master recording or master track, identify the record label or owner, then check the Streaming Plus Licence — Covered Record Labels list. Alternatively, search for the song under "Recordings" on the CCLI Reporting app

You cannot stream any songs and/or video content where there is a financial charge for attending the event — and this includes donations.

Prerequisite: You must hold both a Church Copyright Licence and a Streaming Licence.

Cost: Additional tier. Request a quote from CCLI.

You need this if: You play recorded worship songs (rather than performing them live) during streamed services.

PRS Digital Music Licence for Worship

What it covers: Music rights for streaming worship services on platforms not covered by CCLI — specifically Zoom, Microsoft Teams, your own church website, Vimeo, and other platforms that do not entitle the copyright holder to ad-revenue. This licence covers the composition rights (the songwriters' and publishers' share). It replaced the former Limited Online Music Licence (LOML).

What it does NOT cover: YouTube and Facebook (these platforms have their own agreements with PRS, so CCLI's Streaming Licence is sufficient). Sound recording rights (that's a separate matter — see the PPL section below).

Scope: Covers live streaming, on-demand recordings, weddings, funerals, and music performed by choirs, bands, organists, or from recordings.

Cost: Based on church size and usage. Pricing is not published online — you need to contact PRS for Music for a quote.

You need this if: Your church streams or records services on Zoom, Teams, or your own website.

Why this matters: Many Methodist churches use Zoom for midweek services, prayer groups, and bible studies. If music is included in these, the PRS Digital Music Licence for Worship is needed even if you already have a CCLI Streaming Licence.

OneLicense

What it covers: Recording and streaming of live music performances from over 160 publishers not covered by CCLI. OneLicense's catalogue includes over 80,000 titles.

What it does NOT cover: Streaming or playing recorded music — that requires the PPL Church Licence (in-person only) or direct rights-holder permission for streaming. OneLicense does not cover liturgical content including scripture readings. If you opt for the "Limited" Podcast/Streaming Licence, you will not be able to include song lyrics or melody lines.

Key publishers covered:

• Taize Community
• Iona Community / Wild Goose Resource Group (John Bell and others)
• Oxford University Press
• Stainer and Bell
• GIA Publications
• Kevin Mayhew
• Hope Publishing
• RSCM
• Oregon Catholic Press (OCP)

Why this is essential for many Methodist churches: CCLI's catalogue is weighted towards evangelical worship songs. Methodist worship draws on a broader ecumenical hymn tradition — Taize chants, Iona material, hymns from OUP and Stainer and Bell. A substantial number of hymns in Singing the Faith come from publishers covered by OneLicense rather than CCLI. Common examples include:

• "I, the Lord of Sea and Sky" (Dan Schutte — OCP, covered by OneLicense)
• "O God, You Search Me and You Know Me" (Bernadette Farrell — OCP, covered by OneLicense)
• Taize chants ("Ubi Caritas," "Bless the Lord My Soul," etc.)
• Much of John Bell's material (Wild Goose Resource Group)
• Kevin Mayhew publications

If your church sings any of these in streamed services without OneLicense, you may not be covered — even if you hold a CCLI Streaming Licence. Check before you stream.

Licence types: OneLicense offers several licence types including Annual Reprint, Single-Use, Event, Practice-Track, and Podcast/Streaming. The streaming licence is priced at approximately 40% of the annual licence cost.

UK agent: Hymns Ancient & Modern

Cost: Tiered by congregation size. Check current pricing at onelicense.net.

You need this if: Your church uses hymns or music from any of the publishers listed above — and streams those services. If you're unsure, check your recent service sheets against the OneLicense publishers list.

CLA Church Licence

What it covers: Photocopying and scanning of non-music published materials — including Bible passages, book extracts, articles from Christian publications, and study guides. This is separate from the CCLI Music Reproduction Licence, which covers sheet music only. This licence allows you to share such materials internally, for worship purposes only.

Why it matters: Churches routinely photocopy or scan Bible passages, excerpts from Christian books, and study materials for worship, house groups and study groups. Without a CLA Church Licence, this is technically copyright infringement even if the content is used for religious purposes.

What it does NOT cover: Music (covered by CCLI), or digital distribution beyond what the licence permits. You cannot sell any copies, use them as training materials, or distribute them beyond members of the Church. There are limits on the number of materials you can copy if you publish them on a publicly accessible website or hyperlink that can be accessed by third parties.

Cost: Available through CLA. Check at cla.co.uk.

You need this if: Your church photocopies, scans or digitally reproduces non-music content from published sources.

Church Video Licence

What it covers: Public showing of film clips and movie scenes during in-person services and events. Useful for churches that use film clips in sermon illustrations or themed services.

What it does NOT cover: Streaming. You cannot include copyrighted film clips in a streamed service under this licence. If you want to show a film clip during a streamed service, you need direct permission from the rights holder.

An alternative: share a YouTube link in the stream's chat function for people to watch themselves, provided the clip is not shown, embedded, or rebroadcast as part of the streamed service. You cannot refer to the film titles or characters in any materials shared with the general public, and you cannot charge an admission fee for attending the event where the materials are shown.

Cost: Available through CCLI. Check at uk.ccli.com.

You need this if: Your church shows film clips during in-person services (but remember this will not cover streaming those clips).

PPL Church Licence

What it covers: Playing commercially recorded music (CDs, MP3s, digital tracks) during in-person church activities — youth groups, community events, background music in a church cafe.

What it does NOT cover: Any online use whatsoever. The PPL Church Licence explicitly excludes streaming, recording for distribution, and any form of online playback.

The gap: There is currently no simple PPL licence available for churches that want to stream commercially recorded music. The CCLI Streaming Plus Licence covers some recordings from participating labels, but this is not comprehensive. If you want to play a specific commercial track in a stream and it's not covered by CCLI Streaming Plus, you would need to seek permission directly from the rights holder.

You need this if: Your church plays recorded music during in-person events (but this will not help with streaming).

Part 3: Common scenarios

"We stream our Sunday service on YouTube with live hymns and projected words"

You need: CCLI Church Copyright Licence + CCLI Streaming Licence.

YouTube has its own agreement with PRS, so you do not need a separate PRS licence for YouTube streaming. The CCLI Streaming Licence covers the copyright in the songs and lyrics in its catalogue.

Watch out for: If any of your hymns come from publishers not covered by CCLI (Taize, OUP, Stainer and Bell, etc.), you also need OneLicense.

"We stream our Sunday service on Zoom"

You need: CCLI Church Copyright Licence + CCLI Streaming Licence + PRS Digital Music Licence for Worship.

Zoom does not have a pre-existing agreement with PRS for Music. The CCLI Streaming Licence covers the copyright in the songs and lyrics, but you also need the PRS licence to cover the performing rights. This is the scenario that catches most churches out.

"We upload recorded services to our church website"

You need: CCLI Church Copyright Licence + CCLI Streaming Licence + PRS Digital Music Licence for Worship.

Your own website is not a pre-agreed platform under CCLI's arrangement with PRS, so you need the PRS licence in addition to the CCLI licences. The same applies to Vimeo, Dailymotion, or any platform other than YouTube and Facebook.

"We play a worship CD during our streamed service"

You need: Everything above, plus CCLI Streaming Plus Licence.

The standard CCLI Streaming Licence covers live performance of songs. Playing a commercial recording (e.g. a CD, MP3, or backing track) requires the Streaming Plus add-on. Even with Streaming Plus, not every recording is covered, so you should check CCLI's catalogue before using a particular track.

"We run a midweek prayer group on Zoom with background music"

You need: PRS Digital Music Licence for Worship. Plus CCLI and/or OneLicense if copyrighted worship songs are sung or used.

If music is played during a Zoom meeting — even a small prayer group — PRS performing rights apply. The PRS Digital Music Licence for Worship covers the performance of that music online, but it does not cover separate sound-recording rights.

"We stream spoken-word services only — no music at all"

You may not need music licences if genuinely no music is involved. However, if you read from copyrighted Bible translations or use copyright liturgy, separate copyright permissions may still apply. Check the permissions for the Bible translation you use and see Part 4 below on Methodist materials.

"We want to stream but we can't afford all these licences"

This is a genuine concern, particularly for smaller churches. The combined cost of all relevant licences can run to several hundred pounds a year.

The minimum you need for YouTube or Facebook streaming with live music is the CCLI Church Copyright Licence and Streaming Licence.

Part 4: Methodist-specific materials

Singing the Faith

Singing the Faith (Methodist Publishing, 2011) contains hymns and songs from a wide range of copyright holders. Many are covered by the CCLI catalogue, but some — particularly those from Taize, the Iona Community, Oxford University Press, and Stainer and Bell — are not included in CCLI and require OneLicense instead.

Singing the Faith Plus

All hymns published on Singing the Faith Plus are made available on the basis that they may be used freely in church contexts, provided appropriate copyright acknowledgement is given. Where an author or composer is listed with CCLI, normal CCLI reporting requirements still apply, and the terms of the publication do not override standard licensing obligations.

Methodist Worship Book

The Methodist Worship Book (Methodist Publishing House, 1999) contains liturgy, prayers, responses and orders of service. Copyright is held by the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes (TMCP).

Material in the Methodist Worship Book that is TMCP copyright may be used freely in worship contexts, including the recording and streaming of services, under TMCP's copyright waiver. No separate permission is needed.

Some texts in the MWB are the copyright of third parties (most notably the Church of England) and may require separate permission. Many traditional prayers and responses (Glory to God in the Highest, the Creeds, the Lord's Prayer and others) come from the English Language Liturgical Commission and may be used freely including in streaming.

Bible translations

Most Bible translations are under copyright. The position on streaming varies by publisher:

The KJV is not "out of copyright" in the UK. While the original 1611 text is in the public domain, modern editions of the Authorized (King James) Version remain Crown copyright in the United Kingdom, with rights administered by Cambridge University Press as the Crown's patentee.

For KJV use: You can quote up to 500 verses from the King James Bible provided you do not replicate an entire book and the quotes do not make up more than 25% of the total materials you are publishing or streaming. You must include the following acknowledgement:

Scripture quotations from The Authorized (King James) Version. Rights in the Authorized Version in the United Kingdom are vested in the Crown. Reproduced by permission of the Crown's patentee, Cambridge University Press.

For the full position, see Cambridge University Press — Bibles: rights and permissions.

Original material

If the minister wrote the prayers or the sermon, they hold the copyright and may give permission for streaming. Methodist ministers are office-holders, not employees (Preston [2013] UKSC 29), so section 11(2) CDPA (which gives employers copyright in employee-created works) does not apply. The same principle applies to local preachers, who are volunteers.

For any original liturgy, poems, or spoken content created by members of your church, permission should be obtained from the author (ideally in writing).

For all other content produced by others — whether they are members of your church or not — you will need to ask their permission (ideally in writing).

Do remember: just because content is publicly accessible or on the internet, it does not mean that you can copy or use that same material for worship services. This covers all content — text, photographs, videos, music, and other creative works. You will need to check whether the author or creator has given permission for their work to be used in worship services and to be streamed. Look out for references to a Creative Commons licence and check whether the right permissions apply.

Part 5: Content ID and takedown notices

Some churches have experienced their streams being flagged or taken down by automated Content ID systems on YouTube, even when they hold the correct licences. This is frustrating, but it's important to understand what's happening.

What is Content ID?

Content ID is YouTube's automated copyright enforcement system. It matches audio in your stream against a database of registered recordings. If your live performance sounds sufficiently similar to a registered track, it triggers a match. Content ID is an enforcement mechanism, not a licensing agreement — it does not check whether you hold a licence. It flags automatically.

This means that properly licensed streams can still be flagged, muted, or taken down. There is currently no way around this completely. The same applies to Facebook's Rights Manager system, though it is less aggressive than YouTube's Content ID.

AI content detection during live streams

A related problem: some churches have had their live streams interrupted in real time by automated AI content detection systems. The stream may be muted mid-service, or the audio replaced, while the service is still happening. This is deeply disruptive — imagine the music cutting out mid-hymn for your online congregation.

This happens because platforms increasingly scan audio in real time, not just after upload. Even when you hold the correct licences, the automated system does not know this.

Practical steps to reduce the risk:

• Use CCLI's CopyReport to maintain records of every song you use
• Some churches add a short text overlay at the start of streams stating they hold CCLI and PRS licences
• If using backing tracks or commercial recordings (with Streaming Plus), the risk of Content ID matches is higher than with live performance
• Consider having a plan for what happens if the stream is disrupted (e.g. a backup audio source, or a notice to viewers explaining the interruption)

What to do if you receive a Content ID claim

1. Don't panic — a Content ID claim is not a lawsuit
2. Check that you do hold the relevant licences for the content flagged
3. If you're confident you're licensed, dispute the claim through the platform's process
4. Keep records of your licence numbers and what songs you performed (CCLI's CopyReport software helps with this)
5. If the claim is upheld despite your licence, contact CCLI's support team for help

What to do if you receive a takedown notice or legal threat

This is more serious. If your church receives a formal takedown notice or threat of legal action:

1. Take the content down immediately while you investigate — this reduces the legal risk while the position is clarified
2. Check your licences carefully against what was in the stream
3. Contact your circuit or district for support
4. Seek legal advice before responding to the claimant
5. Keep all correspondence

Part 6: Reporting what you use

If you hold a CCLI licence, you are required to report what songs and hymns you use. CCLI uses this data to distribute royalties to songwriters and publishers.

How to report: Use CCLI's CopyReport software or their online reporting tool. Log the title, author/composer, and CCLI song number for each song you use in worship. Most churches do this on a weekly or monthly basis.

Why it matters: Reporting ensures that the people who write the hymns and songs your church uses are fairly compensated. It also helps CCLI maintain accurate catalogue data.

Access CopyReport at ccli.com

Part 7: Checklist

Use this checklist to work out what your church needs:

• Do you project or print song words? → You need a CCLI Church Copyright Licence
• Do you stream on YouTube or Facebook? → You also need a CCLI Streaming Licence
• Do you stream on Zoom, Teams, or your own website? → You also need a PRS Digital Music Licence for Worship (in addition to CCLI, not instead of it)
• Do you play recorded music in streams? → You also need a CCLI Streaming Plus Licence
• Do you use music from Taize, Iona, OUP, Kevin Mayhew, or Stainer and Bell? → You almost certainly need OneLicense
• Do you photocopy Bible passages, book extracts, or study materials? → You may need a CLA Church Licence
• Do you show film clips in in-person services? → You need a Church Video Licence (but this does not cover streaming)
• Do you scan or photocopy sheet music or hymnbook pages? → You need the CCLI Music Reproduction Licence (covers the typographical-arrangement right)
• Do you report your song usage to CCLI? → Required if you hold any CCLI licence
• Do you have a process for obtaining consent from people who appear in the stream? → See the Recording Consent and Accessibility Guide (D7)
• Do you use any other materials created by others? → Get permission from the author before including these in your service

Part 8: Images, photographs and the Methodist Modern Art Collection

If your church uses images, photographs, paintings or other visual material in streamed services or recorded content, copyright applies in the same way as it does to text and music. Just because an image appears on Google Image Search, or has been shared on social media, does not mean it is free to use.

The general principle: check who holds the copyright, and whether their permission terms cover your intended use (which may be either displaying the image during a streamed service, or embedding it in published recordings).

The Methodist Modern Art Collection

The Methodist Modern Art Collection (MMAC) is a body of significant 20th- and 21st-century religious art owned by the Methodist Church in Britain. The Church holds the copyright in the works themselves through the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes (TMCP).

For most church use, low-resolution images are available free of charge from the Collection's website, with mandatory acknowledgement.

Required acknowledgement (must appear with any reproduced image):

[Artist/title] from the Methodist Modern Art Collection © TMCP, used with permission. www.methodist.org.uk/artcollection

(For use outside Great Britain, add: The Methodist Church in Britain.)

Conditions on reproduction:

• Agreement is for use of a specific image in a single publication; it is not repeatable. If you want to use the same image again in a different context, you need fresh permission
• The work should usually appear in its entirety, with no more than 10% cropping. Works in colour must be reproduced in colour
• The Management Committee require a proof copy before final consent
• Only the image supplied by the Management Committee is to be used, and it must be deleted from any electronic retrieval system after use
• The Management Committee reserve the right to refuse permission for reproduction

Four artists in the Collection are not available for reproduction: Edward Burra, Patrick Heron, Georges Rouault, and Jyoti Sahi. For these works, contact the MMAC team directly for the relevant copyright contact.

Contact: artcollection@methodistchurch.org.uk

Other images

For images outside the Methodist Modern Art Collection:

• Royalty-free image services (Unsplash, Pexels) are usually safe to use, but check each platform's licence terms — some require attribution, some prohibit modification, some restrict commercial use
• Stock-photo services (Getty, Shutterstock, etc.) require a paid licence per image for the specific use you intend (display in a service, embed in a recording, post on social media — these can be different licences)
• Photographs you have taken yourself are your copyright. If they include identifiable people, the data-protection considerations described earlier still apply
• Images shared on social media or found through a search engine are almost never free to use without permission — they belong to whoever created them

Methodist Church news photography

Photographs published on methodist.org.uk and through the Methodist Church's official communications are typically the Church's own copyright or licensed to the Church for publication. They are not automatically free for local-church streaming use. If you want to use a Methodist Church news image, contact Communications via mediaoffice@methodistchurch.org.uk to confirm.

About this guide

This guide was produced by the Connexional Team, with legal review provided by Anthony Collins Solicitors. It is intended as practical guidance and does not constitute legal advice. Copyright law and licensing terms change — always check the licensing body websites for the most current information.

If you spot an error or have a question this guide doesn't answer, please contact digital@methodistchurch.org.uk.