Churchgoers in Morecambe ask for MP's help in getting Covid-19 worship restrictions lifted

Christians across Morecambe have written to MP David Morris in a bid to have government restrictions on church gatherings lifted.
The letter, put together by churchgoers at Church by the Bay in Morecambe, asks the MPto urge the government to lift the restrictions on local churches meeting together.The letter, put together by churchgoers at Church by the Bay in Morecambe, asks the MPto urge the government to lift the restrictions on local churches meeting together.
The letter, put together by churchgoers at Church by the Bay in Morecambe, asks the MPto urge the government to lift the restrictions on local churches meeting together.

Although churches have been allowed to reopen for private prayer, any measures to meet as a congregation are unlikely to be possible until at least July 4.

This is because meeting as a group inside a building of any sort is not currently deemed safe by the scientific advice at this stage of the pandemic.

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However, Mr Morris has been sent a letter asking for his help in changing these plans.

The letter, put together by churchgoers at Church by the Bay in Morecambe, asks the MP to urge the government to lift the restrictions on local churches meeting together.

"For us the opening of church buildings for private prayer does not mean very much: we can pray privately at home," said the letter, which was sent to Mr Morris by Rev Julian Mann.

"What matters to us is physically meeting together as the Lord Jesus Christ's people, whether in a recognised church building or some other venue such as a school.

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"We meet together to build one another up in our Christian faith, to serve one another in practical ways and to serve this town of Morecambe and the surrounding area. We believe local churches provide 'essential services' in love and good deeds.

"We believe that online meetings fall far short of the New Testament standard for church gatherings."

Mr Mann said it had been noted that during the recent protests in cities around the country the police took "little or no action against the widespread disregarding of the social distancing rules".

"If public gatherings posed a risk of unleashing a ‘second wave’ of Covid-19, why was no action taken at the time?" the letter said.

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"Though the authorities have subsequently urged that social distancing rules be observed during protests, we wonder what the official response would have been if Christians had been gathering to protest peacefully against the continuing restrictions on their public worship?

"We note other anomalies in the lockdown rules. On a Sunday people can meet others and go shopping, or go to the zoo or carry out other leisure activities, but Christians cannot meet as church.

"For the first time in centuries, churches have ceased to gather physically for the public and corporate worship of Almighty God – and we ask that this unprecedented restriction be changed urgently.

"When meeting, which we pray will be soon, we would take the care of people and their concerns very seriously and would adhere to guidelines and take all reasonable measures to minimise risk."

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During Covid-19 Mr Morris has been speaking to a number of faith leaders locally and says they have been adapting well to the situation.

A national taskforce of faith leaders has also been working with the government on a plan for when and how churches can operate safely.

Mr Morris said: "Churches locally have been doing some fantastic work virtually to keep their communities together and meeting virtually whilst it has been unsafe for them to meet as a congregation as they normally do.

"From Monday June 22, churches can reopen for individual prayer but it is not currently safe for public services or weddings to take place inside church buildings.

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"As the scientists have explained the virus spreads much more easily inside than it does outside so the majority of measures that have been lifted so far are for outside activities only, where a 2m distance can be maintained in groups of no more than 6.

"The Government have, a few weeks ago now, convened a task force of faith leaders, where leaders of all religions in the UK have met to discuss a plan for a safe and phased reopening of places of worship across the UK. It was agreed by this panel that the safe reopening of faith buildings would be looked at as part of phase 3 of restrictions lifting.

"There will be a further announcement ahead of the next stage of restriction lifting in phase 3 which will happen no earlier than July 4, and if it is safe to reinstate services in any form, where social distancing can take place, then this is the earliest date when this could happen.

"I have only received a preview copy of the letter mentioned, signed by one constituent, Julian Mann, and have been told I will receive the final version with other signatures on Thursday.

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"Coronavirus is extremely serious, and has affected our way of life in many different ways. I would like to thank everyone in Morecambe and Lunesdale for adhering to the guidelines and protecting our community, in what has been an extremely challenging period."