The Bishops of England and Wales

They are continuing to work with the Government to enable our Churches to be opened as soon as possible for private individual prayer. Places of worship are important for all faith communities. Our bishops, and your priests fully support the quest to see our Churches open once again. In the early days of this happening we will need to be cautious. The Cardinal is leading the Task Force. Guidelines are being formulated and will soon be published. When this happens, we will be in a position to act.
Therefore, please begin to consider how we might be able to open our Parish Church for visits by individuals for private prayer.

• This will be for limited times each day, or even on certain days of the week.
  
• In this first step, it will NOT be for the celebration of Mass or any of the other sacraments,
  but purely for individual prayer.
  
• It will have to be well supervised and will need a team of volunteers to manage the process
  who are not in the COVID 19 vulnerable category.
  
• There will need to be the facility for socially distanced queuing to enter the Church
  building.
  
• Hand sanitisation will probably need to be available on entrance and exit.
  
• The entrance and exit to the Church building will need to be different routes.
  
• The floor and seating spaces will need to be properly marked out and social distancing will
  need to be enforced.
  
• Holy Water will not be available and, depending on demand, visits may have to be limited
  to a certain length.
  
• We will try to keep all areas of the Church open with statues available to venerate and will
  try to make it possible to light candles.
  
• Those supervising the entrance, exit and interior of the Church will need to wear protective
  items such as masks and gloves.
  
• There will need to be cleaning and hygiene regimes in place.
  
• Risk assessment will need to take place before we open our doors once again. Our Parish
  Pastoral Council will be involved at all stages.
  It will be early July at the very earliest before we can open our doors to the Church FOR PRIVATE PRAYER. Please bear with us in the meantime.
  Detailed information about this will be forthcoming when we are nearer to a date of opening. We need, as a parish, to work out the best plan possible. We can do that – with your help!
  We have at least a month to think through what is being asked of us. It is very important to understand that:
  

1. Churches will only be allowed to open if the parish can demonstrate that it can put necessary measures in place.

1. Any parish which cannot do this, for whatever reason, is not obliged to open. At this first stage, opening will be a matter for local determination with full support from the Archdiocese for any parish that cannot manage to put in place the requirements necessary.
   
2. The diocese is exploring the possibility of centrally purchasing cleaning, hygiene and protective clothing materials, both to ensure a good supply and reduce costs. These will be available from designated locations.
   

So, dear friends, we do not have a date as yet, for when Churches will be allowed to open by the Government. But discussions are underway. We thank those who are on the Task Force, we are in unity with Archbishop John and his team. All our services will continue on-line. I will keep you informed of any positive developments. Please God, it will not be that long before we are opening our doors for private prayer, but also for Holy Mass and the celebration of the Sacraments.