Churches must stay shut but we can go hi-tech, says Welby

THE Church of England has reiterated calls for churches to remain closed over Easter, as the Archbishop of Canterbury reassures Christians that Jesus is “quite up to date” with technology. Members of the clergy as well as congregants have been divided over whether churches should open their doors for Easter Sunday.

Earlier this week Michael Nazir-ali, the former Bishop of Rochester, called for churches to remain open over Easter to inspire “hope”.

However, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, said it was vital the church “set an example” in following government guidance to stay at home.

“By closing the churches, we make a powerful symbol of the need to listen to that message,” he said.

Responding to the controversy surrounding the closure of church buildings over Easter, in the form of a video message on Youtube, the Archbishop rejected “conspiracy” theories – including that the Church has always wanted to close buildings and that it has an “obsession” with health and safety – as the reasons for the closures.

He also praised technology in helping people remain connected and even joked that Jesus would approve.

“We use the wonders of technology to be in touch with each other, but we recover the sense that Jesus says: ‘where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there with them’.

“And they don’t even have to be physically gathered. Jesus is up to date on all this stuff.”

The Archbishop’s call for churches to remain closed came as details of his Easter Sunday sermon were revealed. In a message, it emerged he will call for “a resurrection of our common life”.

In what will mark part of the Church of England’s first national digital service for Easter Sunday, the sermon will highlight the courage of those on the frontline of the battle against Covid-19.

He will say: “After so much suffering, so much heroism from key workers and the NHS we cannot be content to go back to what was before as if all is normal. There needs to be a resurrection of our common life.”