COVID-19 Pandemic
Whilst Government guidance has been revised to allow certain 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.
The Government has announced that places of worship may now (should they feel able to do so) re-open for private prayer. As from 4 July, Services, including Weddings and Funerals, may start again in England. The Government has restricted the numbers in attendence to be 30 for Weddings, Funerals & Baptisms.
With regret the area of Leicester is not included in this step forward owing to a local lockdown being enforced by the Government, and they must return to the pre 15 June position. A statement from the Bishops and Faith leaders of Leicester may be read here.
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.
- 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
- Metropolitan Police advice on securing empty premises
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
The House of Bishops’ Recovery Group has issued its latest guidance.
These cover preparations for the gradual re-opening of our churches, the first stage of which will be for private prayer/devotion and then specific small-scale funerals and weddings for which we are anticipating the green light being announced shortly. The stage after this will be opening for smaller-scale, socially-distanced services.
- Marking Communities – Opening the Doors: re-entering our church buildings
- Marking Communities – Prayers of Lament, Thanksgiving and Restoration
- Marking Communities – When we meet again: remembering and memorials
- Advice on the Conduct of Public Worship
- Advice on the Administration of Holy Communion
- Advice for Clergy Conducting Weddings
- Advice on Individual Private Prayer
- Advice on pastoral support in the community including care homes
- Advice on Conducting Baptisms
- Advice on Conducting Funerals
- Parish Risk Assessment Template
Special Emergency Measure
Our Legal Advisor has drawn up the attached document that has been approved by the Executive Committee, to give extensions to all the posts that were up for election this year. The Regional Representatives, and the Deputy Regional Representatives having already been elected will not be considered for extension under paragraph 3 of the Special Emergency Measure.
To view the Special Emergency Measure please follow this link.
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.
Guild Events
The following events of the Guild have been postponed or cancelled:
- March 30 – Meeting of Standing Committee
- March 30 – Meeting of Central Council/Executive Committee
- May 4/5 – Ebor Province Festival (Carlisle Cathedral)
- August 9 – Executive Council
- August 10-13 – Annual Training Conference & Retreat
- September 16 – Cantuar Province Festival (Bury St Edmunds)