Coronavirus reopening roadmapFollowing the statement by the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, The Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally, who chairs the Church of England’s Coronavirus Recovery Group, has responded following the Prime Minister’s statement to Parliament. “I am grateful to the Prime Minister for sharing these proposals to ease the current restrictions in a way which gives us all some clarity and enables people to begin to plan. We will study the details and, working with Government Departments, refine our own advice for local churches in the weeks ahead. We all look forward to being able to meet in larger groups again later this year and today’s announcement will be especially encouraging for couples planning weddings, among others... Our churches have loved and served their neighbours perhaps like never before and found ways to meet and worship God together we would not have imagined just a year ago. As we look ahead to the prospect of easing of restrictions we know it is still a long road. Yet Easter reminds us we always have hope.” The Church of England page (link graphic above) will continue to be updated accordingly.
Singing in churches
It has been confirmed that this guidance applies both to professional and amateur choirs where a congregation is present. Under the Performing Arts guidance professional groups may continue to rehearse and train, and perform for broadcast or recording purposes if a congregation is not present. In such cases the numbers or people involved should be kept as small as possible to minimise risks and participants should follow social distancing guidance. Please see Government guidance on places of worship and on Performing Arts for more information. What to do if informed of confirmed cases?
When you are informed of more than one confirmed case with symptoms dating within 14 days of each other, please follow the Action Card guidance and make Public Health aware:
PHE East of England Health Protection Team: Phone: 0300 303 8537 (option 1) Emails: EastofEnglandHPT@phe.gov.uk and phe.EoEHPT@nhs.net If you have to isolate:
Parish FinancesEcclesiastical Fundraising support materials Ecclesiastical have produced a useful guide on fundraising for churches during COVID-19 which you may find useful. Guide | Weblink Parish Buying resources Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and cleaning supplies suitable for post Covid-19 opening are now available please click here. Please remember it is good practice to compare prices before purchasing. Generous giving The work of our church is reliant on people’s generosity, a generosity that is a hallmark of a lived-out faith and a testament to it. Encouraging giving in a parish can feel daunting, but it need not be so. There is a new simple tool available by the Church of England digital team. This personalised giving video can set the right climate for people to review their giving and levels of generosity. There is a short and longer video which could be used on your A Church Near You page or edited into during your streamed or pre-record service. Visit www.achurchnearyou.com to find the resource. Parish Resources | Weblink For more information please visit: Stewardship | Weblink Funding opportunitiesFor the latest funding opportunities please visit: Current fundraising opportunities | weblink Bell ringingInformation is updated regularly please visit the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers website here for the most up to date guidance. Care of Church BuildingsLead theft - please note the criminal fraternity may not heed the government’s advice and stay at home. We had one instance of a break-in during the original lock-down and a recent lead theft. The Suffolk police have recently re-issued their guidance for churches and this can be found here. It’s not lock-down specific but it’s a timely reminder of good practice. In addition, encourage neighbours to keep an eye on the church building and make sure the contact details of the churchwarden are displayed. Ideally visit the church as frequently as practicable as lead theft is sometimes only visible from inside the church after rain has fallen through the missing roof. Lead theft | weblink Faculty rules - don't forget that the new faculty rules took effect from 1 April. An evolution rather than a revolution and the good news is that more work can be done under List B than before and there is an increase in the number of items that don’t need any permission at all (List A). The new Lists are available here. You are encouraged to use the online faculty system (OFS) for your List B and faculty applications. All faculties via OFS will be charged at £200, paper-based applications will incur a fee of £250. Broadband in churches | Weblink SafeguardingIf your church/cathedral is taking responsibility for organising a volunteering service (rather than people helping neighbours or family as private citizens), then you must follow usual safeguarding policies, procedures and practice guidance. This page on the Church of England website includes a various links to COVID-19 Safeguarding guidance and factsheets. Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) renewals must still take place when required. The DBS has provided updated information regarding identity checks in light of COVID-19 available here. Safeguarding training | Weblink Scamming Please note that the Local Government Association (LGA) has warned of strangers and cold callers trying to exploit the elderly and vulnerable while we all try to meet the challenge of COVID-19. We must be alert, support our communities and ensure our outreach and ministry continues to be compassionate and safe.
A prayer for all those affected by coronavirusKeep us, good Lord,
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