How religions are coping with no services or congregations
WORSHIPPERS from every religion across South Wales have, like everyone, felt the effect of coronavirus on their everyday lives.
Lockdown has put a stop to any public gatherings and placed restrictions on people at a time when they are about to celebrate key religious events.
However, there are those across the region who are finding new and inventive ways to worship, as they come to terms with life in self-isolation.
We spoke to people from four different faiths to see how they are coping. christians
Jason Wilkins is the pastor of Ebenezer chapel in Abertillery. He said that over Easter he was eager to bring some normality back to his congregation during one of the most important periods of the Christian calendar.
Along with a small group of senior members he has been filming services throughout the period, and publishing them in a number of online forms for local people to view.
“Easter is a very important part of the year for Christians as it was the time when Jesus was crucified and later raised from the dead,” he said. “For us it proves that he was who he claimed to be, and that he had the power he said he had.”
He said that under normal circumstances a march would have been held through Abertillery on Easter Sunday, along with the other churches in the area, but due to social distancing they weren’t able to do that.
The church wasn’t open at all over Easter, but he wanted to make sure people in the local community were able to see the sermons.
Jason added: “We’ve decided to record them here and will be sending them out via our Facebook and Youtube channels for everyone to watch.
“A part of me did question why