Churches shut doors again
Day to remember for Willow’s parents
Places of worship have been closed again following the latest lockdown requirements being introduced, which forbid anyone from leaving their home except for “essential purposes”.
Strath parents Louise Lyon and Kieran Marshall are pleased they managed to have their daughter christened before the new rules came about, at a time when local churches have been unable to conduct services in the usual way.
Eight-and-a-half month-old Willow Erin Marshall was baptised at Muthill Parish Church just before Christmas and, despite the restrictions at that time, mum Louise said it had been a special day.
She told the Herald: “We had been holding off getting Willow christened due to the pandemic as we had lots of close family and friends we wanted to be there for her special day but, due to restrictions beginning to get stricter, again we decided to go ahead with only 19 of our closest family members and make it a day to remember.”
Willow wore the gown that her mum had worn for her own christening 27-and-a-half years ago, which was also in Muthill Parish Church.
Louise continued: “That was another reason the christening went ahead while she was still able to fit in the gown!
“No hymns were allowed to be sung but they had recorded versions that we were able to choose and listen to during the service.
“We had to sit in our own households within the church and we had to wear masks for the service and track and trace.
“The minister wasn’t allowed to hold Willow while doing her blessing. And it was a private service instead of the christening being held within a usual service with the church members.
“Although it was a different kind of service it was still so memorable and we are so glad we went ahead with our girl’s special day. The minister made the service so personal and reminded us that there is always hope even in the toughest of times.
“We are looking forward to taking Willow to church when restrictions ease.”
Rev Klaus Buwert conducted the service.
He said: “This has of course been a very different year for all of us. The chief difference, from the point of view of the couple, is of course the restriction in numbers attending.
“From my point of view, it is that the sacrament did not take place in a service of worship. That was because of the limited numbers allowed to attend a normal service, and adding a baptism would bring it over that limit. Also because we only had services once a month after they started up again.
“The disadvantage of not having the baptism with the congregation present is that the sense of welcoming the baby into the family of faith is missing.
“One element of the service is where the congregation make a vow to support the family and all children in nurturing the faith they were baptised into. Also, there could be no singing, which is an important part of our worship.
“On the other hand I felt that the baptism was more intimate and I hope just as meaningful, perhaps more so, because of the smaller numbers there, and because it was a special event in its own right and not just part of a regular service. I believe it is the case that in olden times baptisms took place in the home and not the church in any case, so perhaps there is a sense of history in the smaller set up.”
There were no weddings at Muthill Parish Church last year and funerals have also been very different.
Mr Buwert added: “I have had a number of funerals this year. None in the church where they would normally have been held. They were either a simple service at the graveside or at the crematorium, again with limited numbers.
“As far as possible I tried to make the service as normal and meaningful as possible for the families involved.
“The restrictions on numbers attending was the main issue for me, because in a village setting like ours most people would have liked to have paid their respects and weren’t able to.”