Making in-church worship at St Molua’s as safe as possible during the current Covid-19 pandemic has always been our highest priority. Regular attenders will be aware of the systems we have in place to help minimise risk including registration on entry, hand sanitising, social distancing, guided seating allocation and increased ventilation.
Much has been reported in the press recently about the decision by the Northern Ireland Executive to remove the mandatory requirement for face coverings to be worn during religious services in places of worship – face coverings are still legally required when entering and exiting church buildings. It is also strongly advised that they are worn whilst singing or moving around inside church premises.
However, the clear guidance from the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Scientific Advisor remains that face coverings should continue to be worn, therefore parishioners and visitors are strongly encouraged to continue wearing face coverings during church services.
By wearing a face covering we are showing our support and consideration for other members of the congregation, particularly the more vulnerable and those with underlying health concerns. Individually and collectively, we are also then continuing to play our part in preventing transmission of the virus.
Thank you for your co-operation and remember:
The above post has been based on Church of Ireland advice received from the Diocesan Office.