Closing the churches

To The Times

The decision by the Right Rev Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Chelmsford, to ban clergy from the bedsides of the sick and dying could not be a worse call. In short, the bishop is instructing Church of England clergy who have volunteered their services as hospital chaplains during the crisis to “pass by on the other side”. I would imagine NHS staff would welcome the support of volunteer chaplains, providing that they have sufficient PPE gear for them. Is a patient’s spiritual state of mind so unimportant next to their physical condition? The directive from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York to ban clergy from entering their churches, even on their own, to pray and stream services over Easter is bad enough. But to try to prevent clergy from carrying out their calling is shocking. It does not bode well for the archbishopric of York, which Bishop Cottrell is due to take over in June.

Ruth Nares, sacristan, Berwick Church, East Sussex

To The Daily Telegraph

Church buildings are closed, yes, but the Church is composed of people, not buildings, and they have moved the Church online. My church’s first online service had more than 700 views – far more than we ever get in the building – and there will be an online service every Sunday.

Every member of our church has been phoned to see if they either need or can offer help, chat groups are forming and virtual choir practice is going strong. I am sure that we are not the exception. We can be thankful for the technology that enables us to do these things.

When churches open again, I am sure that lessons learnt now will not be forgotten.

Margaret Squire, Teddington, Middlesex