The government loosened restrictions aimed at combatting the COVID pandemic on Monday July 19th. St. Margaret's PCC met on 25th July to conduct a risk assessment and decide what we might be able to do in light of the changes the government made.We decided that people should still be asked to wear face coverings in church and to observe social distancing. We also decided that we should still observe the one way system for moving around the building. However, we agreed that people, instead of a 20 second hand wash, might sanitize their hands on entering the church. Of course, the hand wash would still be available for those who preferred it.We also agreed to reintroduce congregational hymn singing and the singing of the liturgy. The restrictions on singing have been experienced as a great loss and we are delighted we can now start singing again. We do expect people to wear face coverings while singing, which is not ideal, but we believe it worth the inconvenience.
The high rate of Covid-19 infection in January 2021 led the PCC to close the church for public worship just after the Feast of the Epiphany. Morning and Evening prayer were offered in church daily by the clergy but the building was not open to the public. The Parish Eucharist was offered on Sunday morning, the congregation was encouraged to make spiritual communion at the same time and the sacrament was reserved in the aumbry. The PCC reviewed the situation and decided that it was safe to re-open the building from 28th March, Palm Sunday. Social distancing and hygiene measures will still be in place. Communion will be under one kind and there will be no congregational singing. It's good to be back together again.
