Covid-19

Our parish safety response to the pandemic

Our priority is to keep you safe.

 seek to ease rules within our parish buildings and create the opportunity for our community to flourish whilst still taking care of one another.The latest guidance we have in January 2022 from the CofE starts by saying that:

  • although the incidence of the virus is falling, it remains high.
  • the current vaccines are very effective in limiting serious illness for those who are fully vaccinated, but less so for curtailing asymptomatic and milder illness before immunity wanes with time.
  • the impact of long-Covid is an ongoing concern, even for those whose illness is initially mild, with a proportion of those infected experience enduring health problems.
  • vaccination cannot be the sole means of containing the spread of the virus: good hand and respiratory hygiene, social distancing, face-coverings and good ventilation are also important factors in lessening the spread of the disease and should be recognised as such when planning public worship and other church activities.

In other words the pandemic has not gone away but we can adapt to ease the restrictions upon gatherings whilst looking out for each other.OUR CURRENTPARISH GUIDANCEFace Coverings, social distancing and hand sanitizer:Although no longer mandatory face coverings can still be recommended in enclosed places, particularly where we come into contact with people we don’t normally meet.   They are one way in which wearers help protect others but are not a replacement for respecting distance and regular hand washing.  We are therefore invited to still bring a mask and wear it when we feel close to anyone with whom we don’t normally meet.  We are also asked to use the hand santizer and respect the space of others if they wish to keep socially distanced.

Social Distancing:Social distancing is not longer required but being mindful of other’s space is courteous and helps build confidence.Our churches are no longer requried to space our seating but where possible we’ll provide an area where seating is socially distanced. In St.Mary’s Church this area will be the North Aisle where the red crosses will continue to separate alernate pews and where yellow chairs are available along the wall.  The pew restrictions in the rest of St.Mary’s will now be lifted but again, in the context where singing is allowed, please still be mindful of space to those around you.Taking Communion:We shall continue with the practise of offering only the bread or bread intincted with wine in the parish.  We shall not share a communion wine chalice.   Those serving communion will continue to wear masks as you receive bread from them.Refreshments:Refreshments can be enjoyed at our gatherings.  All are asked to sanitize hands before touching cups and coffee pumps etc, and to keep touch to a minimum – thank you.Those serving will continue to wear appropriate ‘gloves’ and’ masks’ when serving and clearing/washing up.   Parish Buildings:Our buildings can again host events up to their ‘fire safety’ capacity although we recommend a limitation to 80 persons in the Parish Centre and Brodrick Hall until 1st April when warmer weather will allow the buildings to ‘breathe’ again.  All activities in our buildings should be risk assessed including an organizers response to mitigating the spread of the virus.

Covid-19 Safety Team

A Churchwarden and the St.Mary’s Administrator/Verger are our parish Covid-19 Officers.  Please contact the Parish Office if you have any questions.

COVID-19

The Coronavirus pandemic has impacted every part of life.   We have worked to maintain the integrity of the life and work of the church at all stages of the pandemic in keeping with the advice of the Government in force at the time.   Throughout the pandemic we have maintained an online Magazine and also online Sunday Worship for the whole parish as key ways to keep in touch whilst also holding our community together in prayer and fellowship.  Whilst, for those not able to access online activity, our small groups networks and pastoral volunteers have kept in touch with others by phone whilst and the occasional magazines which have been safely published and distributed.

The Parochial Church Council have two Covid-19 Officers – those through whom all our risk assessments and special conditions are passed and checked to be in keeping with the law and the policy of the PCC with respect to all of our buildings and activities.

When not in the strictest lockdown we have sought to open both our church and our lettable buildings for the wider wellbeing of people in the community.  Be that in the meeting of their particular groups or clubs, or for individual prayer or worship in St.Mary’s Church.

We have worked to ensure that all our venues operate within the guidelines whilst erring on the side of caution in order to keep visitors safe to the best of our ability.

Before being open for an event each of our buildings is required to have:

  • A Covid-19 Risk Assessment (enacted with regard to numbers in the premises, social distancing, hygiene materials, notices and labelled one way systems, cleaning of seats and surfaces, track and trace information stations, wearing of masks and spare masks, stewarding etc).
  • A list of Special Conditions which apply to the use of the building.
  • Each user group must provide their own Risk Assessment for their activity in keeping with the building and in enacting the Special Conditions, especially if refreshments are to be served.

With all of these measures, when allowed, we seek to host appropriate acts of worship and prayer; or host funerals and weddings.   All of our activities have been simplified in terms of length and content.  Hence, if you would like to attend any of our published activities or Christmas Services etc (should they be allowed to go ahead), then we hope that you will feel confident to join us in the light of the measures we have taken to keep you safe.