The Haven Churches

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The Bishop of Portsmouth

The Rt Revd Christopher Foster

To: All licensed clergy, all churchwardens

6th May 2020

Dear Colleagues,

You will have read or heard reports of the House of Bishops' statement last night about preparations for the gradual recovery, only as safety and the law allows, of the use of our church buildings as we continue to minister and serve the people of our parishes and our congregations. Press reports are inevitably not complete. The full statement is available at https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/news/house-bishops-backs-phased-approach-revising-access-church-buildings.

This initial note is to let you have a first indication of my thinking and expectations so that you can begin to consider how you wish to respond to the formal advice I expect to give later in the week.

• Church buildings must remain closed for the time being as the law requires.
• I intend to allow, from Sunday onwards, access to the parish church for a member of the clergy to pray alone.
• Streaming of services, including Holy Communion, from church will be possible for the parish priest (or a priest licensed to the parish) alone (or with members of their household) but with no others present.
• It is not permitted by law, or by me, for any technical or production assistants to be present in the building.
• We shall continue to pray for our parishes and people, regardless of the place where we do so, and serve them through our ministry, particularly to the sick, dying and dead, those in need or homeless or distress.

It may be helpful to add:

• In the case of multi-parish benefices the archdeacons and I will consider specific permission for a licensed priest or Reader to pray or stream worship in the church building.
• Access to the building for prayer and streaming is explicitly restricted to the priest/Reader and members of her/hls household only.
• The reference to worship leaders is a term used by HM Government and refers to faith leaders. It is not a reference to musicians/worship leaders as we refer to them.
• It is essential that rigorous hygiene measures are observed and that the usual 72-hour rule applies before another person enters the same space unless there has been thorough cleaning of surfaces, equipment, vessels, door handles etc.
• Neither the law nor I permit other allowable visits to the building - eg for security checking - to be 'combined' with private prayer or streaming to enable a ’congregation’ to be present.

The further considerations, - numbered 2 & 3 in the press release referring to rites and ceremonies, and worship with limited congregations - require a change in the present law and are not yet possible.

I reiterate my advice that no one should feel it is required that they must visit the church building for prayer or worship; it is now permitted in the way detailed above but not expected, and it must be for the parish priest to decide, in consultation with churchwardens, the best way to pray for and serve the parish. If you do use the church building then you should please take care and be aware that the building has been unused for some weeks. I am seeking further advice but, for instance, I recommend that for now you do not drink water from taps and supply which have not been in operation for a period.

If streaming you will need to weigh for yourselves the benefits of being alone in an empty building with the solidarity of being at home - perhaps with more creative digital opportunities - as members of congregations must be. I shall continue to stream Sunday worship from Bishopsgrove.

We must continue to give a clear and strong lead that it is right for the wellbeing and health of our parishioners that they and we observe official advice and follow the law to save lives. Pushing or stretching the limits of what is legally allowable are, simply, an abuse of our responsibility to God and his people. Our Christian calling is to to serve them, shield them from harm and hurt where possible, and to put their interests, wellbeing and the common good above any personal or particular interests. Special pleading is not right when thousands have died and remain at risk.

I expect to supplement this initial advice in Friday's eBulletin.

With many thanks and prayers for your ministry,

Yours sincerely,

+Christopher