Churches will put faith in technology as services suspended
THE Catholic Church is preparing to suspend Sunday services following a ban on mass gatherings.
Worshippers could put their faith in technology as congregations turn to live streaming and AI for spiritual succour.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols said yesterday that the Catholic Church in England and Wales was prepared to suspend mass as Easter approaches.
It is hoped the restrictions of Covid-19 may lead to a revival of religiosity and family prayer.
The Church of England is preparing to use Amazon Alexa and app technology to reach the faithful should services be suspended, while the Muslim Council of Britain has advised imams to consider streaming to absent congregants.
This follows the Government announcement that large gatherings will be prohibited in a bid to curb viral infection.
Welsh rugby matches and the Edinburgh Marathon have been added to the list of suspended events. Advice has been issued to West End theatres, which remain open, to restrict guests from going backstage and meeting stars after shows. Major museums are still open for visitors, while audiencebased TV programmes such as Question Time are being reviewed.
The virus has threatened religious observance, forcing clerics to consider other options. Cardinal Nichols, the Archbishop of Westminster, told The Sunday Telegraph: “Where large gatherings are not possible, we are prepared for that. People will be able to stream the mass and our services.”
He added: “It might lead to a revival of family prayer. It will be a bit like a return to the early church, where Christians gathered together in small groups to worship. There are many different ways in which we can pray. I will expect priests to celebrate the mass themselves.” Cardinal Nichols assured
Catholics that there will be plans in place to cover Easter if the viral threat extends into April.
Limits on the distribution of Holy Communion have been advised, with a private sacrament or non-physical spiritual communion recommended.
Church of England experts have been preparing a digital solution, offering recorded prayers and services through its app which can be accessed by ordering Alexa to “take me to church”. It is understood Anglican advisers have been helping other faith communities with expert coronavirus guidelines tailored for religious groups.
The Muslim community is also set to stream religious services as mosques make contingency plans.
Beyond the congregation, West End shows remain open, armed with advice from the Society of London Theatre to disinfect auditoriums in the interval. Royal Opera House and Royal Ballet schedules are unchanged
The Edinburgh Marathon has now been postponed along with the London event. A decision on rugby in England has not yet been made.
While all professional football in England and Wales has been suspended, lower league football fixtures continue to be played in front of large crowds. South Shields yesterday announced an attendance of more than 3,000 despite infection fears. The Victoria and Albert Museum and British Museum will be open. Oxford’s History of Science Museum has closed temporarily due to a lack of available staff.
Six Nations fixtures have already been impacted, along with the Cambridge Science Festival, London Book Fair, The Who’s UK tour and Radio 1’s Big Weekend.