Churches set to reopen to address ‘great needs’
Acharity has revealed the impact the COVID-19 lockdown has had on UK churches and people’s desire for them to reopen more quickly.
The National Churches Trust (NCT) launched two polls to track the effects of lockdown and what people think should happen next.
The “State of the Churches” survey involved polling more than 560 churches around the UK to gauge the effects of closure in May 2020. It showed three quarters of churches agreed that the closing of their building during lockdown has had a negative effect on the community. But the flipside was 64 per cent think their buildings will become more important in the future as a result of the pandemic.
Although their doors have been shut, many churches continued with virtual services and outreach programmes.
National Churches Trust’s press officer Eddie Tulasiewicz said: “The interesting thing about that is just how many churches have managed to keep going with their help and support for local people. Some have even set up foodbanks which they didn’t have before and are delivering medicine and help to people, particularly those who are socially isolated. And that’s on top of all the digital things a lot of churches are doing.
“All in all, churches have really shown their value during this crisis by being providers of help and just generally boosting people’s spirits in the community during these very difficult times.”
The survey found that 45 respondents had started up foodbanks during the crisis. While others have diversified existing services to make sure no one goes short. These include Our Lady Help of Christian, Kentish Town, London. It usually offers lunch, showers and clothes to about 80 people on a Sunday. Because of the freedom of movement restrictions they switched to giving out hot takeaways and food parcels to vulnerable people.
Respondents also told the survey how churches have used a variety of means to continue to be there for their communities. Some have been combating loneliness via telephone calls, social media and letter writing. While others, like St Andrew’s, Bangor, County Down, have teamed up with other services to further their community outreach.
Churches also hope that they will become more relevant when they reopen. St James Church, Darwen, Lancashire, has started one such project, which it hopes will address “great social and spiritual needs after this passes”.
But the impact of lockdown on churches’ finances should not be underestimated. St Mary’s, in Keysoe, Bedfordshire is a case in point. They told the survey “The lockdown will prove to lead to a very difficult financial year for us. Apart from the loss of about a third of our income derived from church collections, we have been unable to organise two summer events which both raise funds and put us in touch with the parish in general.”
The big question is when churches will be able to reopen fully? The Government initially indicated places of worship could reopen no sooner than July 4 - the same as pubs and hairdressers. But there has been a growing desire for them to reopen sooner.
Mr Tulasiewicz said a lot of the churches the NCT supports were puzzled as to why they are “at the back of the queue” when it comes to reopening their public buildings.
This feeling was backed up by a second poll. The NCT, the church buildings support charity, commissioned Savanta ComRes to conduct a survey of more than 2,000 adults. Its key finding was that about half of the public were in favour of churches and chapels re-opening sooner than July as long as they can maintain social distancing. That figure rose to two thirds among regular churchgoers.
And 46 per cent of people also want churches to reopen so they can have a place to remember those who died as a result of the coronavirus.
Claire Walker, CEO of the National Churches Trust said: “Reopening churches as soon as it is safe to do so is important for practical matters as well as for spiritual reasons. Locked churches are vulnerable to break-ins, and lead has been stolen from roofs during the lockdown. Churches continue to need to pay their bills, such as insurance premiums, and their income has been severely impacted by the loss of regular Sunday collections. Parish finances are also being jeopardised as churches can no longer rent out meeting rooms and spaces or hold fundraising events.”
Since survey results were released, the Government has announced that places of worship in England can reopen, just for private worship, from June 15. A small number of churches in Northern Ireland are already doing this.
The Government’s change of tack was welcomed by the NCT boss, who added: “Churches are key public buildings and unique in being places of worship, providers of a wide range of community support and a vital part of our history and heritage. I welcome moves to speed up the opening of churches for private worship. Our recent Savanta ComRes opinion poll shows that the public back moves to open churches as soon as possible, provided social distancing and other health precautions are prioritised.
“The National Churches Trust is ready to provide help and support, including grants for essential maintenance and repairs, to make sure churches can deal with any problems that may have occurred during the lockdown.”