Plymouth church takes decision to close its doors
AREVEREND in Devonport has taken the difficult decision to keep his church’s doors closed – despite the fact places of worship have been given permission to remain open.
According to the third national lockdown rules, churches and other houses of worship can remain open for individual prayers and communal worship, but people should only visit with their household or support bubble.
However, Reverend Mike Shaw, of Devonport Community Baptist Church, says he does not believe that keeping the church open to the public would be “loving your neighbour”.
He said: “In the last two lockdowns, it was very clear for churches that we were to stay shut, even in the November lockdown when we’d already got used to Covid regulations and the way of doing things; wearing masks, hand sanitiser, staying seated and not singing.
“There are lots of things that we’d normally do as a church that we weren’t doing. But in November they made the decision to shut churches and, although that was a pain, it was the right decision.
“This time round they’ve kept churches open and in some ways have said to us to make our own decision. I do believe churches can be safe, but I’m worried. I watch the news, I watch Professor Whitty on the TV and he tells us things will get a lot worse before they get better.
“He tells us not to go out, yet we were asking our congregation and our church members to make journeys outside their household to mix inside with other people for 45 minutes to an hour.”
The church in Clowance Street had previously been open for Christmas, and their first service on January 6, but Rev Shaw says, after meeting online with his congregation last Sunday, they made the decision to keep their doors shut and worship virtually instead.
Explaining the decision, he said: “It would only take one case in our church – where we’ve got vulnerable people – and that would end up with them being very ill and potentially dying. I don’t think I could live with my conscience.
“For me, it was a very simple decision. We believe it’s the right thing to do. We decided that we wouldn’t meet again until things are much clearer in terms of volumes and numbers of cases.
“As a church, we’re called to love our neighbour. I don’t believe that loving your neighbour is potentially giving
‘We can worship online. I’m not a great fan of it, but we can do it’ REVEREND MIKE SHAW
them a virus that is going to make them very, very ill.
“People are concerned about mental health, but for me pubs are closed, golf clubs and tennis clubs, all manner of things are closed.
“All of these things benefit people’s mental health – sport and recreation is something I love. I’m a massive Plymouth Albion fan, that helps my mental health but they haven’t been able to play since last season.
“If they’re going to be shut and they’re good for mental health, why should churches be an exemption?
“We can worship online. I’m not a great fan of it, but we can do it. It’s inconvenient, but that’s it.”