We are delighted to be able to return to services in Church, starting on Sunday 6 September with a Eucharist, which is at the heart of our worship and identity.
Things are looking very different in Church, so if you are planning to come, it might be helpful if you were to familiarise yourself with the measures we are putting in place:
Before you arrive
We can only accommodate 30 people at a service. We ask you to consider your own risk of attending an indoor gathering. While we will be taking a number of steps to keep you safe, we cannot make this risk-free. You might want to look at the NHS guidance on whether you are at higher risk of coronavirus and be guided by their advice
- We ask you not to attend the service if you:
Have any symptoms of COVID 19 - Are self isolating
- Are shielding or a member of your household is shielding
You may want to bring your own hand sanitiser. You must wear a mask or face covering. Please remember that face coverings protect others from your germs – they are not a replacement for good social distancing, hand hygiene, and self-isolating if you have symptoms.
When you arrive
The doors will open 15 minutes before the service. Before that you will need to wait on the church path and stay a safe distance from others in the queue.
At the main door, we will take some contact details. These will be kept for 3 weeks after the service and given to Track and Trace if someone from the service later tests positive for coronavirus. They won’t be used for any other reason and if they are not needed for this purpose, they will be securely disposed of after 3 weeks.
The welcomer will let people into the building individually or in households/bubbles. You will be asked to use the hand sanitiser on arrival, then go immediately to a seat in church. The next household/bubble can then be let in.
Pews in church will be marked at 2m intervals. If you sit in a household group, please turn over the other seat sign on the pew.
We ask you to go straight to a seat and remain there for the duration of the service.
The vestry door will be used for exiting the Church at the end of the service.
Church doors may be left open to allow some ventilation so you may notice it is a little cooler than you expect.
During the Service
The relevant service books along with gift aid envelopes and service sheets will be located in a personal ziplock bag, which we ask you to take home and bring back to use at the next service.
Due to risk of aerosol spread, there will be no singing during the service.
We ask that when you are saying the responses you speak quietly and prayerfully – again to reduce risk of droplet spread.
When we share the peace, we cannot move from our places – we will simply make a sign of peace to those in other households.
During distribution of communion, only bread will be distributed. The priest will wear a visor and/or mask and sanitise their hands before distribution.
You might want to use your hand sanitizer (if you have brought one) before receiving communion.
Communion will be given at the Chancel step – please keep a 2 m distance up the main aisle and return to your seat using the aisle on the right hand side.
If you do not want to receive communion for any reason, that is absolutely fine – just stay in your seat.
At the end of the service
After the priest has processed out, the welcomer will ask people to leave a row at a time.
Please wait for the welcomer to ask you to leave and use the vestry door to exit.
Please take any orders of service home with you.
Please do not stop to chat while leaving the building.
Once out of the building you are welcome to talk in small groups of not more than 6 in the churchyard. Please do not block other people’s exit from the building. Please remember to stay 2m apart from people from other households.
If you test positive for coronavirus up to three weeks after the service, please let us know.