Your Church Safes

Bradleys Master Locksmiths have produced a safe specifically for churches and other bodies who carry out marriage ceremonies. Many churches still leave the safe storage of highly sensitive documents such as marriage registers in old safes which, when originally made, were strong & fire proof, but are unfortunately now well past their sell by date and definitely don't do what it says on the tin!

Back in the 1800's these safes were manufactured in their thousands and many are still in daily use today. As a burglar deterrent they have their uses. Their weight makes them difficult for would be thieves to pick up and carry away. Being made of steel makes them difficult to open for those who aren't in the know.

However, they have their problems - and they are big problems too. Being made (in many cases) over 100 years ago, these safes are not up to the job when faced with tools such as cordless angle grinders available today. If the safe has been kept in a hot or damp environment at any time in its past, then it could have become unsound - especially at the bottom.

We were asked to move a safe for one customer which from the outside, although a bit rusty, seemed otherwise ok and we had no reason to think that there would be a problem with the safe. Unfortunately when we tried to lift the safe, the bottom literally dropped off! Often this is because of compounds used inside the safewalls which are meant to keep the contents cool and slightly damp in the event of a fire. Over time these compounds become unstable, creating a damp environment inside the safe which begins to rot the safe from the inside. Over the years, many attempts were made by manufacturers to create a stable compound to create a 'steam' inside the safe in the event of a fire. The problem with many of these old compounds was that they were loose fill and after 20 or 30 years, the compounds settle at the bottom of the safe in much the same way the contents of a box of Corn Flakes will settle after being shaken. In the event of a fire, only the lower half of the safe is protected. Obviously not what you want with your marriage register!

Points to check on your safe:

If not, then it doesn't meet the current diocesan requirements. It is time to order the Church Register Safe.