Cookies Policy
What Are Cookies
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device — your computer, tablet, or mobile phone — when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently, to remember your preferences, and to provide information to the owners of the site.
Cookies do not contain any information that personally identifies you on their own, though in some cases they may be combined with other information that does. Cookies are not harmful to your device and do not give website owners access to your personal files.
This Cookies Policy explains what cookies we use on the New Testament Church of God Luton website at lutonntcg.org.uk, why we use them, and what choices you have in relation to them. It should be read alongside our Privacy Policy, which sets out how we handle your personal data more broadly.
How Long Do Cookies Last
Cookies can be either session cookies or persistent cookies. Session cookies are temporary and are deleted from your device when you close your browser. Persistent cookies remain on your device for a set period of time or until you delete them manually. We use both types, as explained in this policy.
First-Party and Third-Party Cookies
First-party cookies are set directly by the NTCG Luton website and can only be read by us. Third-party cookies are set by a different website or service — for example, YouTube or Google — and are governed by the privacy and cookie policies of those organisations. We have no direct control over third-party cookies, though we aim to minimise their use.
Cookies We Use
We aim to use cookies only where they serve a clear and legitimate purpose. The cookies used on our website fall into the categories below.
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are essential for the website to function correctly. Without them, certain parts of the site — such as secure areas, forms, or the ability to remember your cookie preferences — would not work. Strictly necessary cookies do not require your consent under UK law, though we still wish to be transparent about them.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| wordpress_logged_in_* | Keeps you logged in to the WordPress site if you are an authorised user or administrator | Session |
| wordpress_sec_* | WordPress security cookie — helps protect the site against unauthorised access | Session |
| wp-settings-* | Stores your WordPress interface preferences if you are a logged-in user | 1 year |
| PHPSESSID | Maintains your session state across page requests | Session |
| ntcg_cookie_consent | Remembers your cookie preferences so we do not ask you again on every visit | 12 months |
Functional Cookies
Functional cookies allow the website to remember choices you have made — such as your language or region preferences — and provide enhanced, more personalised features. These cookies do not track your browsing activity across other websites.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| viewed_cookie_policy | Records that you have viewed our cookie notice | 12 months |
| gdpr[allowed_cookies] | Stores your cookie consent selections | 12 months |
Analytics Cookies
We may use analytics cookies to help us understand how visitors use our website — for example, which pages are visited most often, how long visitors spend on the site, and whether they encounter any errors. This information is collected in an aggregated, anonymised form and helps us improve our website and content.
If we use Google Analytics, it is configured to anonymise IP addresses and is not used to identify individual users.
| Cookie Name | Provider | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| _ga | Google Analytics | Distinguishes unique users by assigning a randomly generated number | 2 years |
| _ga_* | Google Analytics | Maintains session state for Google Analytics 4 | 2 years |
| _gid | Google Analytics | Registers a unique ID used to generate statistical data on how you use the site | 24 hours |
| _gat | Google Analytics | Used to throttle the request rate to Google Analytics | 1 minute |
Analytics cookies are only placed if you have consented. You can withdraw your consent at any time using the cookie settings on this page or by adjusting your browser settings.
Embedded Content and Third-Party Cookies
Some pages on our website include embedded content from third-party services. This is most commonly YouTube videos of our sermons and services. When you interact with embedded content, the provider of that content may set their own cookies on your device.
The main third-party services whose cookies may be present on our website are:
- YouTube (Google LLC) — used to embed and play sermon recordings and livestream content. YouTube may set cookies including
YSC,VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE, and others. These are governed by Google’s Privacy Policy. - Google Maps — if we embed a map to help visitors find us, Google Maps may set cookies. These are governed by Google’s Privacy Policy.
- Facebook / Meta — if you use the share functionality or interact with social media buttons on our site, Meta may set cookies. These are governed by Meta’s Cookie Policy.
- Giving platforms — if you are directed to a third-party giving platform such as Give.net or Enthuse, that platform will operate its own cookies under its own policy.
We recommend reviewing the privacy and cookie policies of these third-party providers for full details of how they use cookies. We have no control over third-party cookies once they have been set.
Where possible, we use privacy-enhanced or no-cookie embed modes (such as YouTube’s privacy-enhanced embed at youtube-nocookie.com) to limit the cookies set before you choose to play a video.
Your Cookie Choices
You have a number of options when it comes to managing cookies on our website. We want to make these options as clear and accessible as possible.
Cookie Consent Banner
When you first visit our website, you will be shown a cookie consent notice. This allows you to accept all cookies, accept only strictly necessary cookies, or manage your preferences in more detail. Your choice is saved for 12 months. You can change your mind at any time by using the cookie settings link, which is available in our website footer.
Browser Settings
Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can typically choose to:
- View the cookies that have been set on your device
- Block cookies from all or specific websites
- Delete cookies that are already stored on your device
- Set up alerts when a cookie is being placed
Please note that restricting cookies may affect the functionality of our website. Strictly necessary cookies cannot be blocked without preventing certain features from working correctly.
For guidance on managing cookies in your specific browser, please visit:
Opting Out of Analytics
If you wish to prevent Google Analytics from collecting data about your visits to our website, you can install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on. This is available free of charge from Google.
You can also opt out of interest-based advertising from Google through the Google Ads Settings page.
Do Not Track
Some browsers include a “Do Not Track” feature that signals to websites that you do not wish to be tracked. There is currently no consistent industry standard for how websites should respond to this signal. Our website does not currently alter its behaviour in response to Do Not Track signals, though we aim to minimise unnecessary tracking regardless.
Cookies and Children
Our website is intended for a general audience and is not directed specifically at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children through cookies or any other means without verifiable parental or guardian consent. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information through our website, please contact us at hello@lutonntcg.org.uk and we will take appropriate action.
Legal Basis for Using Cookies
Our use of cookies is governed by the UK Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (PECR) and the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), as supplemented by the Data Protection Act 2018.
Strictly Necessary Cookies
We place strictly necessary cookies on the basis of legitimate interests — specifically the proper technical operation of our website. These cookies do not require your consent, as they are essential for the site to function and cannot be disabled without breaking core functionality.
Analytics and Functional Cookies
We place analytics and functional cookies only with your consent, which you provide through our cookie consent banner. You may withdraw your consent at any time, and doing so will not affect the lawfulness of any processing carried out before withdrawal.
Third-Party Cookies
Third-party cookies — such as those set by YouTube when you play a video — are placed on the basis of the legitimate interests or consent frameworks of the relevant third-party providers. We encourage you to review their policies for the full legal basis.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Cookies Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our website, the technologies we use, or applicable law. Any changes will be published on this page with an updated effective date. We encourage you to check this page periodically.
If we make significant changes to how we use cookies — particularly in relation to cookies that require your consent — we will notify you through our cookie consent banner on your next visit.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Cookies Policy, the cookies we use, or how we handle your data more broadly, please contact us:
New Testament Church of God Luton
c/o St Pauls Church
New Town Street
Luton, Bedfordshire
LU1 3EB
Email: hello@lutonntcg.org.uk
Website: lutonntcg.org.uk
Charity Number: 250306
You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the UK’s data protection regulator, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), if you believe your rights have not been respected. You can contact the ICO at ico.org.uk or by calling 0303 123 1113.