COVID-19 Pandemic

Whilst Government guidance has been revised to allow activities to take place in church buildings, it is still vital that the necessary hygiene and social distancing precautions are kept in place in order to protect the NHS and save lives.

From 19 July, the rules for places of worship will change. At Step 4:

• There are no longer limits on the number of people you can meet. This means there are no restrictions on group sizes for attending communal worship.
• Legal requirements for social distancing will no longer apply and you will not need to stay 2 metres apart from people you do not live with.
• There are no legal restrictions on the number of people that can attend a place of worship, including at significant life events, such as bar/bat mitzvahs, private baptisms, and naming ceremonies.
• Face coverings are no longer required by law in any setting. However, the Government expects and recommends that people wear face coverings in crowded areas such as public transport.
• COVID-secure rules, including table service requirements and restrictions on singing and dancing, will no longer apply. However, there are steps everyone should continue to consider to reduce the risk of transmission, which are explained in this guidance. Places of worship should follow the principles set out in the working safely guidance.
• There will no longer be limits on the number of people who can sing indoors or outdoors. This includes indoor congregational and communal singing.

We, in the Guild, want to ask you all to look after yourselves, and your congregations. Follow the advice given to you from the NHS and from the Church and dioceses websites, please remember to keep checking for any updated information.

• Opening and managing church buildings in step 4
• Government Advice on for the safe use of places of worship during the pandemic
• Church of England Coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance
• NHS advice
• UK Government

Future Safety

As churches begin to look towards being able to open again, we must all look at how we will safeguard all people who come into our buildings.

Charles Farris has released some COVID-19 safety products (please note that others may be available elsewhere) and these may be viewed here.

They have also produced some flyers that can be downloaded and viewed separatley

• Hand Cleansing and Surface Sanitising
• Hand Dispensers & Sanitising Stations
• Church Safety Signage

Need To Stream Your Services?

In these unprecedented times, churches have been asking CCLI for a licence to stream worship services. They have been working hard to find a solution.

Their new Church Streaming Licence, combined with the Limited Online Music Licence (LOML) from PRS for Music, permits you to legally webcast your services, including the worship music.

Further information can be obtained from the CCLI website. You can contact them via this link.