Isn't it that religious services in any place don't need a licence, even where they have music, but that places of worship will need a licence for things that aren't religious services which involve music and so forth? But they won't have to pay for it. (Just for the adaptations that are required...)

And I was puzzled by that business about village halls hosting events. I took it that it was about where the event isn't being put on by the village hall committee as such, but they have lent or hired it to some other organisation. But you could well be right - they are as incapable of saying what they mean as they are of meaning what they say.