Congregations to ‘return to Northern Ireland churches by Good Friday’

The four Northern Ireland bishops in the Church of Ireland have written to clergy in each diocese updating them on how they perceive the re-opening of church buildings can take place after the lifting of the current lockdown.
By Billy Kennedy
Published 27th Feb 2021, 07:00 GMT
Updated 27th Feb 2021, 08:25 GMT
Archbishop John McDowell, the Church of Ireland’s Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland.Archbishop John McDowell, the Church of Ireland’s Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland.
Archbishop John McDowell, the Church of Ireland’s Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland.

Public worship gatherings will continue to be voluntarily suspended by the Northern Ireland churches of the various denominations until Thursday, April 1.

The Church of Ireland bishops indicate, in their letter, that they will assess the situation immediately after the Stormont Executive’s review on Thursday, March 18.

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The Executive review will focus on the anticipation that, from Friday, April 2 (Good Friday) onwards, worshippers of the various faiths in Northern Ireland can return to in-person gatherings for worship, with all necessary precautions and mitigations in place.

Newcastle Presbyterian Church, Co DownNewcastle Presbyterian Church, Co Down
Newcastle Presbyterian Church, Co Down

The Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, and Methodist churches, it is confirmed, are taking similar approaches to the Church of Ireland bishops, explaining the way forward to worshippers in their denominations.

Current government restrictions on church openings in the Irish Republic have been extended until Easter Monday (April 5), Church building openings there are only allowed for private prayer.

The Church of Ireland letter is sent with the approval of Archbishop John McDowell (Armagh), and bishops David McClay (Down and Dromore); Andrew Forster (Derry and Raphoe) and George Davison (Connor).

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The bishops’ letter reads: “Following the Northern Ireland Executive’s decision to extend the current Covid–19 restrictions to Thursday April 11, church representatives met with ministers, health minister and the chief medical officer.

“At that meeting the chief medical officer stressed that it would make a significant difference and be of huge benefit to public health and safety, if churches were willing to continue, for the time being, not to gather in–person for services and other meetings.

“In the light of the executive’s extension of current restrictions, and on the basis of the continued and unequivocal public health message that people should continue to stay at home, we have agreed that all in–person Sunday gatherings for worship, along with all other in–person church gatherings, should remain voluntarily suspended for the time being in all church of Ireland parishes in Northern Ireland until Thursday April 1, with the exception of weddings, funerals, arrangements for recording and/or live–streaming, drive– in services and private prayer (as permitted by regulations).

“We have also agreed to further assess the situation immediately after the next Northern Ireland Executive review of current lock-down provisions on Thursday March 18, in the cautious anticipation that, from Friday, April 2 (Good Friday) onwards, our parishioners in Northern Ireland could return to in–person gatherings for worship, with all necessary precautions and mitigations in place. This recognises the importance of Easter, the significance of which was acknowledged by the health minister and chief medical officer at their most recent meeting with church representatives.”

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Related topics:Northern IrelandStormont ExecutiveNorthern Ireland Executive