Kirk cancels Easter services

The Church of Scotland has announced that all gatherings and worship, including Easter services, will be cancelled until further notice.

A statement said that “sensitive conversations” will need to take place with families and mourners ahead of funeral ceremonies to “consider the size of groups gathering”. “It may be necessary in the future to consider whether funerals should be restricted exclusively to minister, immediate family, and funeral directors,” it read.

On weddings, the church said certain venues would be restricting attendance and it may be that “couples have to work through what changes have to made, including, in some cases, rearranging”.

The statement read: “The Scottish Government now advises that people should minimise social contact by avoiding crowded areas and large gatherings, including religious congregations, and smaller gatherings.

“The Church of Scotland now asks, in the strongest terms, that all gatherings for worship should cease until further notice, with effect from Wednesday 17 March 2020. Other Scottish Churches are taking similar actions. This obviously includes Easter services.

“Some Presbyteries have already instructed this action. This will include, but not be restricted to house groups, meetings for youth work and church cafes. It will still be possible for an individual to offer a livestream of a sermon and prayers.”

The statement said church buildings could be kept open as a place for people to come and pray. Notices should be clearly displayed asking that visitors observe robust hand hygiene on entry to the church.

The Orange Order has meanwhile axed future marches across Scotland due to the coronavirus outbreak. The Grand Orange Lodge Scotland said all marches and meetings were being postponed with “immediate effect”.