February 2021 update:

Communal Worship in the Astley, Tyldesley and Mosley Common Team

As anticipated the national, regional and local situation regarding infection rates has unfortunately continued to worsen in recent days. Whilst there is hope and light at the end of the tunnel through the vaccinations that are now being rolled out, Professor Chris Whitty, the Chief Medical Officer for England, said quite clearly on Monday 11 January that the next few weeks will be the worst of the pandemic and has urged everyone to minimise meeting with other people in indoor as well as outdoor settings.

Whilst churches can remain open for communal worship the decision regarding whether they should on this occasion has been delegated to the local level. Taking into account the rising ‘R’ rate across Wigan Borough, the vulnerability of many in our congregations and the vulnerability of church officers and minsters, our churchwardens, clergy colleagues have taken the decision that we should extend our local suspension of communal worship to now include the date of Sunday 28th February. This was not an easy decision but is based on our overarching responsibility to keep everyone as safe as possible and to contribute to the Government’s stipulation that we should refrain from household mixing by remaining at home as much as possible.

These are difficult decisions to make and we ask for your understanding. To minimise contact and to enable others to take part in our on-line services, we will stream a pre-recorded service on Sunday morning on Facebook over the next three Sundays at 10.00am. My colleagues and I look forward to sharing with you in worship in person in the not too distant future.

Yours in Christ

Rev Martin B Cox,

Team Rector & Area Dean

Please contact us:

Team Rector: Rev Martin B Cox 01942 883313 [email protected]

Team Administrator: Susan Mallon 07873 149627 [email protected]

Churchwarden: Iain Hodcroft 07976 314012 [email protected]

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength . . . Love your neighbour as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”