Following discussions with the Government the Bishops have somewhat relaxed current liturgical restrictions. The likelihood of spread of the virus through touching surfaces is now recognised to be substantially lower than by aerosol or droplet.
* General cleaning to a high standard using standard rather than specialised cleaning fluids, especially to frequently touched objects such as door handles, is to be maintained – once a day for most surfaces will suffice.
* Face coverings must continue to be worn for the time being and ventilation also remains important.
* People should be encouraged to use hand-sanitiser on arrival, and this should be available, but it is no longer necessary for stewards to supervise this. On weekdays and when the church is open for private prayer people should take responsibility for this themselves.
* Track and trace attendance records although will be in place only on Sundays – I would ask stewards to continue in this role.
* Social distancing must continue for the time being but may be reduced to 1 metre [this is defined in official documents as ‘nose to nose’].
* Altar servers and up to six singers are permitted, again observing social distancing, but congregational singing is permitted only outdoors.
* Bidding Prayers, and presumably the homily, may be reintroduced. It is no longer necessary for readers to avoid touching the book.
* The offertory procession is permitted but the collection will remain as at present since it can only be taken if people can place the offering in a bag or basket without handling it.
* Holy Communion may be given on the tongue, but recipients should come up last and the minister should sanitise hands afterwards.
* The words ‘The Body of Christ’ may now be said individually at the moment of administration.
* Still no holy water in stoups, sign of peace or Communion from the chalice.
So, from next Sunday there will be Bidding Prayers. bread and wine may be brought up at the offertory procession and Holy Communion will revert to the normal place in Mass with communicants returning to their place afterwards instead of going straight home.
Kelvedon church will now be open every day during daylight hours for private prayer.
