Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Archbishop suspends church services
The Archbishop of Canterbury says church services “must be put on hold” in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Archbishop Justin Welby and the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, say it is necessary to suspend public worship until further notice, and to live-stream services where possible. In a joint letter issued on Tuesday, they said the Church of England must face the challenge by becoming a radically “different sort of church” rooted in prayer and serving others.
It comes after the government announced unprecedented peacetime measures to try to control the spread of the Covid19 virus, with restrictions on public gatherings, transport and working. The Archbishops said that, where possible, church buildings such as Canterbury Cathedral should remain open as places of prayer for the community, observing social distancing recommendations. They also invited clergy to maintain daily prayers - live streaming their worship if resources allow. They urged congregations to be in the forefront of providing practical care and support for the most poor and the most vulnerable during the crisis.
They wrote: “Being a part of the Church of England is going to look very different in the days ahead.
“We may not be able to pray with people in the ways that we are used to, but we can certainly pray for people.
“Please do carry on supporting the local food bank and buy extra provisions for it. Ensure night shelters wherever possible are kept open.” Private services such as weddings and funerals are not affected.