Welcome to St Mary’s

Coronavirus Update – 21 June 2020

Vicar’s Letter

The Government and Church of England have agreed that Churches may re-open for private prayer and funerals ONLY.  To this end a comprehensive risk assessment (which can be found here) has been carried out and all guidelines for cleaning and protecting you have been carried out.  All pew runners and kneelers have been removed and every alternate pew has been roped off to keep people at a safe distance.  This risk assessment has been passed by the PCC and the PCC have made the decision to open at specific times.

Bathrooms will be closed for the time being (but have been updated with touchless soap dispensers and touchless hand sanitizers).  At the entry into the church there is a free standing touchless hand sanitizer which we will ask you to use going in and going out of church.  There will be no bibles or paper materials at all in church.

You are welcome to bring your own bible and cushion on the understanding that only you touch them and take them home.

We have twelve pews available to sit in – if you live alone then only you can sit in a pew, if you are married or in a bubble then you can share a pew.

If you have any symptoms of COVID or are in quarantine then please do not enter into church at this time as others will be put at risk.  If you are in a vulnerable category then again please take care and follow government guidelines.

Church will not be open at other times and no-one should enter the building without the explicit permission from the Vicar (who is acting on behalf of the PCC) as a record needs to kept of all personnel coming in and out which should be the very minimum.

SO when will be open?

The aim will be to open Mondays 10.00am-12noon and Thursday 6.00pm-8.00pm and this will start on Monday, 22nd June 2020.  This allows for people who work to have the opportunity to visit church to pray.  Each week’s time for opening will be advertised weekly in the notice sheet (see the right hand column of this page) and on FaceBook (facebook.com/stmarywoodkirk) and they may differ if a funeral has to be taken.

With regards to Funerals we are in a position to offer a funeral in Church now – there can be no Organist or a Verger.  Music can be played via a computer or CD and this can be discussed with me at the time.  The maximum number that can attend a funeral is 25 although this does need to be talked through with me but it should be sufficient to allow close family members to attend.  This will comply with all current Government guidelines and Parochial Church Council (PCC) decisions.

We have a long road ahead together as we attempt to return to some kind of new normal.  Please be assured that myself and the PCC will always make the decisions that are in your best interest.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can answer any questions or offer help in any way.

Best wishes

Sharon, Vicar

07539466724