Billy Kennedy: Drive-in services will not meet needs of Ulster church-goers

The comment article on this page last Saturday seeking the early re-opening of our churches in Northern Ireland produced a very favourable response not just from News Letter readers, but from many in the wider public, particularly in large numbers on line.
By Billy Kennedy
Published 23rd May 2020, 07:09 BST
Private prayer has resumed at churches across Nortern Ireland, but Billy Kennedy says this is more common in Catholic churches like this one in west Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.Private prayer has resumed at churches across Nortern Ireland, but Billy Kennedy says this is more common in Catholic churches like this one in west Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.
Private prayer has resumed at churches across Nortern Ireland, but Billy Kennedy says this is more common in Catholic churches like this one in west Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.

A total of 6,808 hits on the subject were recorded on the News Letter web over the weekend.

The unpopular diktat, upheld and arbitrarily demanded by those in control of the devolved administration at Stormont, appears to currently place the early re-opening of churches for services far down the list of its priorities.

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Limited re-opening of churches on a daily basis to allow worshippers to personally go into pray, as was announced this week, has always been a practice of Roman Catholic worship and, from this perspective, it is a welcome move. Prayer is vitally important in every sector of Christianity.

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 8th June 2017 - Westminster General Election 2017 DUP's Gregory Campbell pictured at the election count at Foyle Arena Derry for Foyle and East Londonderry. Photo by Freddie Parkinson / Press Eye.Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 8th June 2017 - Westminster General Election 2017 DUP's Gregory Campbell pictured at the election count at Foyle Arena Derry for Foyle and East Londonderry. Photo by Freddie Parkinson / Press Eye.
Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 8th June 2017 - Westminster General Election 2017 DUP's Gregory Campbell pictured at the election count at Foyle Arena Derry for Foyle and East Londonderry. Photo by Freddie Parkinson / Press Eye.

Protestant churches, however, are almost totally reliant on the Sunday morning/evening and mid-week services for their witness where the entire congregation comes together as a body in God and, on this front, the Reformed denominations are at a marked disadvantage. For whatever reason, it has always been the case that front doors of our Protestant churches are closed every day except the Sabbath.

Should they now be opened 24/7 to allow the faithful to enter for a time of personal reflection and prayer?

Drive-in services are given the green light, but there are obvious logistical and locational difficulties in arranging these. Does this mean folk driving to a church car park, pulling down the windows, and listening and praise to a sermon from a 100-200-yard distance?

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This may be fine in a rural setting, but what happens if a church does not have a car park? A drive-in event is inadequate for proper church worship, It seems too much like a ‘beachy’ open-air solution, an Americanism that does not sit easily with regular Ulster church-goers.

As pointed out last Saturday, services in church buildings with architecture, symbolism and history represent the consecration of our public life and faith. It is surely time for a much more imaginative response to this spiritual dilemma and the church leaders must exert more pressure on the politicians for a positive and early response on complete re-opening.

East Londonderry DUP MP Gregory Campbell, meanwhile, has written to Northern Ireland First Minister and party colleague Arlene Foster urging the executive to consider a taskforce for places of worship.

Mr Campbell said: “A taskforce would be helpful as a reference group for the executive as they navigate rolling back of covid-19 restrictions. There has been much deliberation and discussion regarding when churches will be able to re-open for congregational worship. Rightly, almost everyone has taken the responsible attitude that there must be a safety-first attitude when dealing with the subject.

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“Given that there have been slight changes aimed at drive-in services and church buildings can open for private prayer, it seems sensible for churches themselves to prepare for further relaxation guided by continuing personal safety approach.

“Those in charge of church buildings could identify what steps they would introduce when the easing is being considered. The distancing of seated worshippers inside the building, toilet facilities, offering provision, entering and exiting the building or provision of several services are all matters which could be discussed.”

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Related topics:Northern IrelandUlsterGregory CampbellArlene Foster