Covid-19 Route Map: Step 4 Guidance 

Statement from the Catholic Bishops of England 

Covid-19 Route Map: Step Four Guidance for our Church

Following the Guidance of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales as the country moves into Step 4 (19th July) of the Government Covid-19 Response Roadmap published in February 2021, we would like to draw your attention to the following as far as our church is concerned:

We strongly recommend face covering are worn in church. Sanitizing hands before entering the church is strongly recommended. We will  continue to constantly sanitize the church.  Seating capacity would be  increased.  However, there will still be two people per pew (unless they are a household) but pews will be a bit closer than before.

Congregational singing is now permitted. For now, the priest would  continue to come to the congregation in the pews during Holy  Communion. Those who wish to receive Holy Communion on the tongue may do so.  The physical sign of peace remains suspended.

The Holy Water stoups would not be filled yet. If you require Holy Water please speak to Fr Joe or any of the sacristans, Chris Bentley or Margaret Carter, and we will fill a bottle for you. The offertory collection would  resume. Finally, the NHS Test, Track and Trace system would continue.

Fr Joe Owusu-Ansah