Gordon Lyons: I know churches and faith groups have questions over worship return

One of the most striking changes in the lives of many people of faith, including my own, has been the inability to go to our place of worship.

The closure of churches is unprecedented in our lifetimes. Indeed, there are churches that have been open for worship every Sunday for hundreds of years that have now remained empty for months.

However, churches are not solely places where people gather for corporate worship one day a week. Across all traditions in Northern Ireland, they are part of the daily lives of people.

Prayer meetings, bible studies, children’s meetings, and a whole range of other activities and events take place in them. Many people have had to do without this community and the support that comes with it and this prolonged closure has had a significant impact on the spiritual and mental wellbeing of many.

I fully appreciate and understand the frustration expressed by those who could not fathom why restaurants and shops were preparing to open, while churches had to remain closed. However, there are particular difficulties with people coming together in a church for a prolonged period of time, such as the greater possibility of the mingling of congregants and the risk it could pose to the spread of the disease.

However, that risk can be managed and the benefits of reopening the churches would be hugely significant.

That’s why last week the First Minister announced the establishment of a Churches Working Group incorporating Executive Ministers and representatives of different faith groups, with the objective of charting a pathway to re-opening. The first meeting of that group took place on Wednesday. It was a really useful engagement and it demonstrated that churches had already put a lot of time and effort into creating comprehensive plans.

As a result of their work and the engagement we had with the Chief Medical Officer, the Executive have been able to give an indicative date of 29th June for churches to reopen. I know churches and faith groups will have a lot of questions about what their services will look like, how many can attend and what measures they will need to have in place.

The Churches Working Group will meet again next week so congregations will have clear guidance and time to prepare. It’s obvious though that we will not immediately go back to the way things were.

There will be a new normal and there will be a phased approach. Life has changed immensely but I am pleased people will soon be able to meet again with their church families and participate in public worship.