Public worship ban

sir – As faith leaders from different communities across Britain, we write at a holy time of year for many of our faiths’ traditions. The Covid-19 crisis has been a time of suffering, heartache and mourning for some, and of distress, anxiety and sacrifice for all.

Our churches, mosques, synagogues, gurdwaras, homes and temples, which would usually be preparing for large gatherings, are closed. As a result, our face-to-face relationships with our communities are on hold, yet our faith and hope have not diminished.

We are all adapting to these challenging times. People are reconnecting in innovative ways, and we commend our communities for continuing to stay at home to help the NHS, and for not visiting loved ones, in order to protect and shield them.

We are now practising our faiths through online services and by finding creative ways to support the most vulnerable without spreading the virus. Our communities are responding to urgent needs on the ground with extraordinary examples of volunteering and charity work.

During this period of festivals, we pray for the wellbeing and good health of everyone, and, in particular, our NHS heroes and all critical workers.

When this crisis ends, our places of worship will be restored once more as places of congregation, music and prayer.

Qari Asim

Chairman, Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board

Rajnish Kashyap

General Secretary, Hindu Council UK

Malcolm Deboo

President, Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe

Rt Rev Toby Howarth

Bishop of Bradford

Venerable Bogoda Seelawimala

Head of the London Buddhist Vihara and 10 others; see telegraph.co.uk

sir – I strongly support the view expressed by the Rt Rev Michael Nazir-ali (Comment, April 7), formerly Bishop of Rochester, that churches should reopen. Social distancing would not be difficult to implement.

We currently have a ridiculous situation where members of the Anglican clergy who live a few yards from their church aren’t permitted to enter them and must broadcast from their homes instead. Such a restriction is not required under the legislation, which allows “a minister of religion or worship leader to go to their place of worship”.

What is more, a recent study (report, April 7) showed that school closures probably do more harm than good. The closure of choir schools beyond the normal date for resumption after Easter could do lasting damage, and place at risk the precious tradition of outstanding daily choral music in our cathedrals.

James Little

Saffron Walden, Essex