Support offer throughout Strath as churches close
The Church of Scotland has called for all church services should be cancelled as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
However, Strath churches are still offering reassurance to parishioners via phone calls and messages and with online support.
Rev Andrew Philip of Crieff Parish Church said strong and reassuring pastoral care is still available.
Mr Philip told the Herald: “Obviously our concern is for the welfare of our members and others in our parish.
“Elders and members have been encouraged to use the phone, email and social media to maintain a more regular contact with our members.
“We are now shut down ‘til after Easter, so there are no services or midweek activity in the church.
“Obviously we want to keep in touch with our congregation, so our elders will be phoning people regularly to check everyone is OK and if any help is required.
“We have also cancelled all activity in the St Andrew’s Hall until further notice.
“Sadly, this will impact funerals too, and the advice from the Church of Scotland is that there may be a restriction to immediate family if the service is graveside or at a crematorium.”
And Mr Philip also hopes to be able to stream sermons on a Sunday morning for those who would like to tune in on the internet.
He continued: “We don’t want people to isolate themselves unnecessarily, but to follow official guidance on personal hygiene and contact with other people.
“We have an extensive collection of previous services and sermons on our website and will be trying to stream something on Sunday mornings for those who want to listen in. We will also be regularly updating social media.”
Murray Lauchlan, session clerk of Comrie Parish Church, confirmed that decisions had still to be taken locally as to how weddings and funerals will be handled.
And although there will be no weekly services for the time being the doors of Comrie Parish Church will remain open daily within daylight hours if people want to drop in for quiet contemplation or prayer.
Comrie Parish Church will also be working with other local groups to support the village’s most vulnerable residents.
Mr Lauchlan said: “Although formal church services may be curtailed, the church will remain open for quiet reflection and prayer, or even just to sit and feel safe.
“Comrie Parish Church is an integral part of village life, none more so than in times of trouble.
“Comrie itself is resilient in the face of adversity as shown by the floods a number of years ago.
“In that instance the church led the way providing assistance and support to those who suffered. As a church we will help once more with coordinating help for those in need as much as we can.
“I have been told of a meeting to take place within the village in the next few days to establish a volunteer community force to assist the most vulnerable with practical help.
“The network of church members throughout the village will be able to feedback when necessary the individual need of the community.
“We live in challenging and unpredictable times with priorities being redefined by the hour.”