Developments timeline in Spalding area following restrictions in response to the Coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic including temporary closure of church buildings:
Tuesday 22 September: 'Following the announcement by the Prime Minister of new measures to limit the spread of coronavirus, the Church of England is continuing to engage with Government departments to review advice to churches. The Prime Minister emphasised that we can draw comfort from the fact that places of worship as well as schools and businesses are staying open. 'We note the change from a maximum of 30 attending weddings to a maximum of 15 from Monday September 28.' With thanks to St Mary & St Nicolas and others Wednesday 9 September: Following the government's changes to numbers able to meet together 'socially', churches have sought clarity and advise that congregations may continue to meet for worship. Please check with individual churches direct for late changes. All due apologies for errors or omissions; italics = awaiting confirmation Broad Street Methodist (FB): digital service; doors open around 9:30am with the service following some half hour later Calvary Baptist (FB): open, public service at 10:30am Friends Meeting House (Quakers): open, public meeting at 10:30am Harvest Church (FB): services online Lighthouse (FB): phased re-opening from 5/7; Sunday worship livestream online during transition for 11:30am open, public service South Holland Community Church (FB - private group): date for reopening awaited Spalding United Reformed Church (FB): open, public service at 10:30am with guest preachers St Mary & St Nicolas (FB): open, public service at 10:30am; readings and sermon available in advance online; the recording of the service has been made available later The Immaculate Conception & St Norbert (FB): book places at 11:00am Mass (and midweek Masses) in advance direct with the church; most Sunday & midweek Masses available livestream Week commencing 6 July pattern of midweek online services: Wednesdays: Reflection: St Mary & St Nicolas (FB); Morning Prayer, Moulton & Whaplode (FB) until 19/8 Mass, livestream, almost daily: The Immaculate Conception & St Norbert (FB); please check this week's dates and book places in advance direct with the church Links and further events on our Facebook page for Hope4Spalding Church re-openings: following government guidelines, some churches are opening their doors midweek for personal, private prayer, some from 15 June 2020 and worship from 4 July 2020; collated lists for Spalding and surrounding villages available on our News page Church services online pattern over recent weeks (to 1/6): Daily: devotions from Lighthouse church; St Mary & St Nicolas added some forward-dated audio recordings for daily Morning Prayer on their YouTube channel Almost daily: Mass from St Norbert's, livestream Monday: morning prayer from All Saints Moulton/St Mary's Whaplode (until 19/8) Wednesday: midweek reflections from St Mary & St Nicolas; morning prayer from All Saints Moulton/St Mary's Whaplode* (*until 19/8) Friday: Midday prayers via Zoom led by Sutton St James Baptist Church Sunday: Services, reflections, livestream and pre-recorded 
Snapshot: Pentecost Sunday around the area as seen on Facebook; interactive map with links to church websites and Facebook pages; apologies for errors and omissions - please contact us to add/amend/edit etc
Church closures update following PM statement 10 May (updated 13 May):
Baptist Union: 'the situation for churches in the UK remains unchanged' - further details on their webpage
Catholic Conference of Bishops: 'The timing and the manner of the opening of churches touches profound sensitivities and spiritual needs. The Government’s document and statements fail to recognise this'
Church of England: We strongly support the Government’s approach of continuing to suppress the transmission of the virus and accordingly, we recognise that at this time public worship cannot return in the interests of public health and safety.
United Reformed Church: In light of recent statements from the Prime Minister, and from the devolved governments in Wales and Scotland, the United Reformed Church holds to the position that all church buildings should remain closed except for the provision of essential services (foodbanks, addiction recovery groups, etc) or for one person to attend in order to record or livestream worship
  Church of England update and FAQ (25 March) Further clarity, updates and extensive FAQ
Roman Catholic, 25 March: all churches must close (Diocese of Westminster)
Live-stream and recorded services (updated 21 April):
 Harvest Church (FB) using Zoom
Churches in surrounding towns and villages offering on-line services include (updated 9 April):
Baston, Langtoft & Thurlby - The Ness Group (FB)
Churches using Facebook for updates and brief messages in addition to their websites (updated 7 April)
 Churches with YouTube channel (updated 21 April; includes churches using other platforms for video)
Lincoln Diocese letter and poster announcing buildings closure (24/3)
(Note: as at 24/3, there were conflicting messages concerning use of church buildings for live-stream or recordings - since clarified by diocese)
 Presidents of Churches Together in England have issued a call to prayer in the light of the Coronavirus pandemic. This is for all churches and people of prayer to join on Sunday 22 March, Mothering Sunday. Full text via CTE / article
Methodist update, 23 March: "The Methodist Church is announcing a closure of all its church buildings. The only exception will be for churches that offer essential social outreach like foodbanks, soup kitchens and night shelters, but these must be carried out within Government guidelines" (District website)
 Lighthouse Church: Live-streaming services
Spalding Baptist, 19 March: Sunday services being live-streamed
Harvest Church: meeting suspended
SHCC South Holland Community Church, 19 March: services suspended
Roman Catholic, 18 March:
Churches remain open; suspension of public celebration of Mass (YouTube); St Norbert's live-streaming Mass
Methodist Circuit, 18 March:
Churches open with prayer cards/pointers while formal services are suspended:
Sundays 10:30am - 11:30am at Gosberton and Holbeach
Tuesdays 10:30am - 11:30am at Broad Street
Broad Street Methodist, 17 March:
Services are suspended for now along with Tuesday coffee mornings FB
Lighthouse Project, 17 March:
Various changes, see FB
Spalding United Reformed Church, 17 March: Worship at Spalding URC is cancelled until further notice
Calvary Baptist: services to be live-streamed (22/3)
Glen Group: services suspended in Anglican and Baptist churches in Pinchbeck, Surfleet and West Pinchbeck
Gosberton Group: services suspended in Anglican, Baptist and Methodist churches in Gosberton area and Quadring
Please check directly with surrounding town and village churches; weblinks available
Coronavirus Covid-19 update - Church of England 17 March 2020
"In light of the Government guidance around non-essential contact, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York have issued advice that public worship is suspended until further notice.
Churches should be open where possible but with no public worship services taking place. Prayers can be said by clergy and ministers on behalf of everyone and churches should consider ways of sharing this with the wider community."
Coronavirus updates to 16 March 2020
Please check with individual churches for further information
Broad Street (FB):
Harvest Church (FB):
Quakers/Friends: 'Meeting for worship continues until advised not to'
Lighthouse (FB): 'Meetings continue' (12 March)
The Immaculate Conception & St Norbert (FB): Precautions and changes on News sheet
Apologies for errors and omissions; please contact us with further updates
St Mary's, Long Sutton Flower Festival postponed to September (16/3). Listing on this website updated (17/3)
Further postponements on the Flower Festival page
CTSD Lent series has been cancelled due to concerns over Coronavirus COVID-19 (16/3). Talks have been uploaded to the Baptist church website
This prayer was written by Rev Frances Ballantyne (16/3):
Father God, we are aware of our global connections at this time, and our common togetherness as we face this virus in all our communities. We pray for all peoples at this time, it’s a prayer for strength , compassion and understanding as we all face disruption to our usual patterns of lifestyle. Help us all to be aware of our neighbours, to be aware of our own well being, and to suffer with those fearful of their livelihoods and anxious in uncertain times. We pray for your peace as you offer peace that passes all understanding. May we rest in the present, with the power of your presence. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen. |
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