Masks in church

SIR – There is something deeply discouraging – and, dare I say it, even discriminatory – in the regulation requiring worshippers to remain masked for services in church even when distancing rules are observed.

There have recently been many photographs of crowds at sports events, indoor concerts, entertainments and social gatherings at which nobody appears to be masked. The response to the question of masking for worship, together with the matter of singing in public, has been met with patronising pronouncements from government ministers and baffling regulations.

The extraordinary rollout of the vaccines surely means that freedom of worship must resume as soon as possible.

Rev Michael J Maine

Cuckfield, West Sussex