Welcome to St Mary’s

We are currently on Week 7 of our plan – from Weds 25th August and Week 8 of our plan – from Weds 5th September.

From this week I am going to lead the service from the Vicar’s stall. When it comes to Holy Communion I will move to the High Altar and take the Eucharistic Prayer from there. When it comes to the administering of Holy Communion which will continue to be in one kind only this will be dispensed from the main altar rails, however, I ask you not to kneel for the time being but to stand to receive Communion. Please make your way up to the altar rails once a Warden asks you to move. When you enter the sanctuary (up the two steps) then please bear left and move through the first row of the choir stalls. No more than four people will be at the altar rail at any one time – this gives adequate spacing. Once you have received please return via the opposite choir stall, down the two steps and back to your seats taking care to keep distance between you. You can remove your masks should you wish as you come for communion or else you can remove then at the altar rail. It is imperative you don’t move until you are invited by the Warden and that you keep a 1m distance between yourselves. We will continue to be careful and move cautiously forward. Please also come up for a blessing.

Singing will remain the same with 2 hymns sung and sung communion if Brian is present. Please wear masks to sing and both doors should be kept open.

It really doesn’t matter how long we take to get back to whatever the new normal will be but it does matter that we keep each other safe and that we consider the vulnerability of others.

If you are clinically vulnerable (or simply nervous about returning to church) then please come to the Wednesday morning service at 10.00am which is quieter and therefore more space to sit apart.

With regards to children – having spoken to Neal and seeking his advice regards the rise in cases – the children’s corner will not reappear until at least the end of September.

Of course, children are welcome, they must just sit in the pews with their parents/carers.

We have now had the last of our Coffee mornings and it has been wonderful to meet up with people over a cup of something and a snack. Thank you to all those who volunteered and provided the snacks. It has been much appreciated.