Front of Church Assistant
Location: Great St Mary’s, Cambridge
Reports to: Shop and Tower Manager
Contract: Part Time Hours (20 Hours a week)
Salary: We are a Living Wage employer
Role Overview
Great St Mary’s is a major historic tourist destination at the heart of Cambridge, receiving over 300,000 visitors each year. The Front of Church Assistants work with a small team of staff and volunteers to provide a warm, informed, and professional welcome to all visitors and worshippers arriving at the church, ensuring their experience is safe and enjoyable. The role combines hospitality, ticketing, retail, stewarding, and light maintenance responsibilities in support of the church’s mission as both a place of worship and a major cultural attraction.
Key Responsibilities
Visitor Welcome & Stewarding
- Greet all visitors with warmth and courtesy.
- Provide information about the church’s history, worship, events, and visitor facilities.
- Supervise visitor entry to ensure smooth flow, safety, and respectful behaviour within sacred spaces.
- Support and direct tour groups, giving health and safety briefings as required.
Ticketing & Retail
- Operate till systems accurately, handling cash and card payments.
- Sell admission tickets for the tower, as well as merchandise, guidebooks, and souvenirs in the church shop.
- Restock and maintain displays to a high standard, assisting with stock control and deliveries.
Health, Safety & Security
- Monitor visitor areas and report any hazards or maintenance issues.
- Ensure emergency procedures (fire evacuation, first aid etc.) are understood and followed.
- Contribute to maintaining a safe and welcoming environment for all visitors and volunteers.
Cleaning & Maintenance
- Undertake light cleaning duties in front-facing areas (e.g. entrance porch, shop, nave seating areas).
- Support routine checks of visitor facilities (toilets, lighting, accessibility access).
- Assist with opening and closing procedures, including locking up.
Supporting Worship & Events
- Liaise sensitively with the ministry and music teams to ensure visitor activity does not disrupt worship.
- Set up and move furniture to prepare the space for services, concerts, rehearsals, and special events.
- Act as a steward for concerts and other events.
Personal Specification
Education & Qualifications
· GCSE English and Maths (or equivalent)
· High standard of written English
· Level of safeguarding training required: Basic Awareness/ Foundation
Experience & Attributes
Essential:
- Clear and confident communication skills.
- Friendly, approachable, and confident engaging with people from diverse backgrounds.
- Reliable and professional, with strong attention to detail and personal presentation.
- Comfortable handling money and using digital point-of-sale systems.
- Willingness to work flexibly, including weekends and church festival periods.
Desirable:
- Experience in customer service, tourism, heritage sites, or church hospitality.
- First Aid, fire marshal, or health & safety training.
Additional Information
· No DBS check required
· Staff will be on their feet extended periods of time, and need to undertake light physical work, including climbing the tower, moving boxes and furniture, and setting up tables. It is therefore important that the post holder is physically fit and feels confident in performing these tasks.
· Uniform – including polo neck t-shirts, and fleeces – will be provided. Employees should wear suitable black/ navy trousers.
Pay: £13.45 per hour
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Cambridge CB2 3PQ: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Education:
- GCSE or equivalent (preferred)
Experience:
- Customer service: 1 year (required)
Language:
Work Location: In person
