Opening our Doors for Private Prayer & Sunday Services

In response to the recent government guidelines, we are now able to open our doors for Sunday services, as well as for private individual prayer. 

We will continue to open for private, individual prayer on;

Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays between 11.00am and 1.00pm

From Sunday, the 5th July, we will be opening on a Sunday morning from 10:00 for a spoken, eucharist service at 10:30. 

These services will be very different from how we have worshipped together in the past and we will be putting the following guidelines in place; 

• People will be asked to queue outside the church and the doors will open at      10:00am. We have a capacity number and, once that is reached, we will not be permitted to allow anyone else into the building.
• Social distancing measures will be in place in relation to seating;
  • Upon arrival, people will be welcomed and asked to wait to be shown to specific seats. Seats will be allocated with three individuals to a pew, household groups can be seated together, and on alternative pews. 
  • A system to ensure the best use of space within social distancing guidelines will be in place. 
  • Once in these seats, people are asked to remain seated for the duration of the service unless instructed otherwise.
• Hand sanitizer will be made available when entering and exiting the building.
• Singing is not permitted at this time although music will be played from the organ, only one organist will play during the service to reduce the risk of transmission.
• The common cup will remain suspended, as will the sharing of the peace. 
• The bread may be shared according to the following;
  • Both celebrant and recipient must wash/sanitize their hands before and after, hand sanitizer gel will be available. 
  • Arms must be kept at full extension during this time, to maximise distance.
  • There will be a strict flow in place to maintain social distancing measures during this process, please follow instructions from stewards. 
  • You may see face masks worn during the eucharistic prayer.
• No hymn books will be available but single-use service sheets will be provided for you to use.
  • Please take these home and dispose of them in your home bin.
• When exiting the building people will be asked to follow guidance from stewards to ensure we exit in a socially distanced manner. 
• Refreshments after the service will not be available at this time. 
  • You are welcome to convene outside the building and perhaps you could pop over to Fitzwilliam and Hughes for a takeaway drink. 
• The toilets will not be open. The layout of the toilet area within the Minster does not allow enough room for social distancing measures to be in place. 
• We will be asking for contact details from those who gather so that we can help with the 'track and trace' programme. This is not a requirement, but it will be requested. 
• The service may also be live-streamed on social media as we know this has been a welcome addition to our regular weekly services and there are members of the congregation who will not feel able to leave their homes at this time.
  • It is important that we maintain a digital presence after lockdown has eased, this is an essential tool to reach a wider audience who may not be able to visit us in person. 
• Surfaces within the Minster are being regularly cleaned and sanitized after private prayer during the week and will be wiped down after the service on Sunday. 
• It is a requirement to wear face-coverings to attend the Sunday service unless you are medically exempt. 
• Certain areas of the Minster will be closed to public access, these areas will be clearly marked. 
  • The Jesus chapel will not be open at this time.
  • The children’s area will not be open at this time.
  • The toilets will not be open to visitors at this time. 
• The offertory plate will not be passed around, instead, we would ask that any cash donations are deposited into the cash donation box or you make use of our contactless donation box; the Goodbox.