Letter from Archbishops and Diocesan Bishops of the Church of England to all clergy in the Church of England
27 March 2020
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, Stay home, protect the NHS and save lives We are writing further to you given the rapidly changing nature of the situation in our country at present. We want to thank you for the ministry you are exercising and for the creative and imaginative ways in which you are responding to the crisis and showing the love and care of Christ to the communities we serve, particularly to the most vulnerable in our society. As we move towards Passiontide, focussing on what Jesus did for us on the cross, more than ever this is brought into stark focus. We want to reiterate the advice we have already sent. The government is asking us to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives. We call upon all our churches and church leaders, clergy and lay, to follow this advice. We are in a time of great fearfulness. The numbers of those becoming seriously ill and dying is increasing. It therefore remains very important that our churches remain closed for public worship and private prayer. The Church of England is called to model the very best practice. We must lead by example. Staying at home and demonstrating solidarity with the rest of the country at this testing time, is, we believe, the right way of helping and ministering to our nation. Therefore, for a season, the centre for the liturgical life of the church must be the home, not the church building. We recognise that this has its challenges. But many clergy and lay people have already started streaming and live streaming daily worship from their homes. Often they create prayer spaces or a small oratory in a room or the corner of a room. It is hugely encouraging to hear stories of how our prayers and loving actions are blessing our communities and reaching out beyond our usual congregations. Similarly it is wonderful to hear stories of innovative pastoral practice and spiritual care being undertaken in new ways. Thank you for this. Not being able to use our church buildings is, of course, a huge loss to us all. We are aware that for many clergy it is hard not to be able to pray and worship in their church building; and for many lay people, not even being able to see worship going on in their church building is difficult. Streaming worship from home shows that we are alongside those who are having to self-isolate and those who are forgoing so many other things in their lives that they used to rely on. It also shows that we are facing up to the same restrictions as them and doing all that we can to take a lead in encouraging people to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives. Moreover, to pray from and in the home may help us to show that the church is, as we all know, us, the people of God, not our buildings. Nationally, the Church is making a growing range of digital resources available including weekly video broadcasts each Sunday; daily audio for prayer for the day and night prayer; webinars for churches; daily #LiveLent content; new mental health reflections; and apps and smart speaker skills. Lots of this content is also available in downloadable and printable formats. Explore everything available here. More will be added in the weeks and months ahead. The BBC is also offering services on television and radio and online which people can access and we are working closely with them. This will be especially helpful for clergy who do not feel confident in streaming services themselves. No one should be under pressure to stream worship or feel guilty if they can’t. Some of our communities do not have access to the internet. Please, therefore, do all that you can to ensure other resources are available and pastoral care is offered to all. For example, we know many places have set up telephone networks and these are crucial for keeping in touch with the vulnerable, isolated and elderly. We are endeavouring to make other resources for prayer and worship at home available, particularly for Holy Week. The decision to close the church buildings and to prevent them being used for streaming has been a very difficult one. Some government advice suggests that we should be able to allow streaming from church buildings. Our advice, however, is that we should go the extra mile in following the clear public health advice and guidance which is to stay at home and to stay safe. The government guidelines also continue to assert that funerals can take place in church buildings. The medical, epidemiological and public health advice we have received clearly indicates that this represents an additional layer of risk that we don’t need to take. Cleaning a church building after a funeral is much harder to do than a crematorium chapel. Furthermore, the ability of a parish priest to control the number of mourners will always be compromised by the proper instincts to care for the bereaved at the moment of a funeral. Of course, this is costly, but we believe the cost is less likely to be in human lives. Consequently, we are continuing to ask clergy to conduct funerals at the graveside or in a crematorium chapel. We are very aware of how quickly events are changing and we will keep under review all our advice and guidance. If Government guidance changes we will consider our own guidance. Our priority is to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives. Our prayers are with you all; let us all support one another. With every blessing, +Justin Cantuar +Sentamu Eboracensis
27 March 2020
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, Stay home, protect the NHS and save lives We are writing further to you given the rapidly changing nature of the situation in our country at present. We want to thank you for the ministry you are exercising and for the creative and imaginative ways in which you are responding to the crisis and showing the love and care of Christ to the communities we serve, particularly to the most vulnerable in our society. As we move towards Passiontide, focussing on what Jesus did for us on the cross, more than ever this is brought into stark focus. We want to reiterate the advice we have already sent. The government is asking us to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives. We call upon all our churches and church leaders, clergy and lay, to follow this advice. We are in a time of great fearfulness. The numbers of those becoming seriously ill and dying is increasing. It therefore remains very important that our churches remain closed for public worship and private prayer. The Church of England is called to model the very best practice. We must lead by example. Staying at home and demonstrating solidarity with the rest of the country at this testing time, is, we believe, the right way of helping and ministering to our nation. Therefore, for a season, the centre for the liturgical life of the church must be the home, not the church building. We recognise that this has its challenges. But many clergy and lay people have already started streaming and live streaming daily worship from their homes. Often they create prayer spaces or a small oratory in a room or the corner of a room. It is hugely encouraging to hear stories of how our prayers and loving actions are blessing our communities and reaching out beyond our usual congregations. Similarly it is wonderful to hear stories of innovative pastoral practice and spiritual care being undertaken in new ways. Thank you for this. Not being able to use our church buildings is, of course, a huge loss to us all. We are aware that for many clergy it is hard not to be able to pray and worship in their church building; and for many lay people, not even being able to see worship going on in their church building is difficult. Streaming worship from home shows that we are alongside those who are having to self-isolate and those who are forgoing so many other things in their lives that they used to rely on. It also shows that we are facing up to the same restrictions as them and doing all that we can to take a lead in encouraging people to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives. Moreover, to pray from and in the home may help us to show that the church is, as we all know, us, the people of God, not our buildings. Nationally, the Church is making a growing range of digital resources available including weekly video broadcasts each Sunday; daily audio for prayer for the day and night prayer; webinars for churches; daily #LiveLent content; new mental health reflections; and apps and smart speaker skills. Lots of this content is also available in downloadable and printable formats. Explore everything available here. More will be added in the weeks and months ahead. The BBC is also offering services on television and radio and online which people can access and we are working closely with them. This will be especially helpful for clergy who do not feel confident in streaming services themselves. No one should be under pressure to stream worship or feel guilty if they can’t. Some of our communities do not have access to the internet. Please, therefore, do all that you can to ensure other resources are available and pastoral care is offered to all. For example, we know many places have set up telephone networks and these are crucial for keeping in touch with the vulnerable, isolated and elderly. We are endeavouring to make other resources for prayer and worship at home available, particularly for Holy Week. The decision to close the church buildings and to prevent them being used for streaming has been a very difficult one. Some government advice suggests that we should be able to allow streaming from church buildings. Our advice, however, is that we should go the extra mile in following the clear public health advice and guidance which is to stay at home and to stay safe. The government guidelines also continue to assert that funerals can take place in church buildings. The medical, epidemiological and public health advice we have received clearly indicates that this represents an additional layer of risk that we don’t need to take. Cleaning a church building after a funeral is much harder to do than a crematorium chapel. Furthermore, the ability of a parish priest to control the number of mourners will always be compromised by the proper instincts to care for the bereaved at the moment of a funeral. Of course, this is costly, but we believe the cost is less likely to be in human lives. Consequently, we are continuing to ask clergy to conduct funerals at the graveside or in a crematorium chapel. We are very aware of how quickly events are changing and we will keep under review all our advice and guidance. If Government guidance changes we will consider our own guidance. Our priority is to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives. Our prayers are with you all; let us all support one another. With every blessing, +Justin Cantuar +Sentamu Eboracensis
Version: 24.03.2020
1
Update from the National Safeguarding Team regarding COVID-19
As the Archbishops of Canterbury and York have said, the Church’s life together will look very
different over the coming period. In particular, the Archbishops have urged the Church to
continue to meet the needs of vulnerable people in our communities. The National Safeguarding
Team has outlined some brief safeguarding advice based on national guidance, to go alongside
advice already being offered by Diocesan Safeguarding Advisers (DSAs).
We hope this will assist dioceses, cathedrals, religious communities and parishes in ensuring
that during these challenging times good safeguarding practice continues to be observed.
The Local Government Association (LGA) has warned of strangers and cold callers trying to
exploit the elderly and vulnerable while we all try to meet the challenge of COVID-19. We must
be alert, support our communities and ensure our outreach and ministry continues to be
compassionate and safe.
We hope the guidance below will assist in ensuring everyone remains as safe as possible during
these unprecedented circumstances, which we expect to continue for some time. The
‘frequently asked questions’ (FAQs) will be made available online in due course and will be
updated as further queries and information become available.
Please be aware that this is an evolving situation, with government departments
providing updated information on an almost daily basis. Advice and responses to FAQs
will be updated as new guidance is provided from the government.
Key points:
• Keep up to date with the latest information from the government regarding COVID-19.
• National safeguarding policies and practice guidance remain in effect and this note is
based on them.
• If you have safeguarding concerns about a child or adult, contact your DSA within 24
hours. If a child or adult is in immediate danger or requires medical attention, call the
police and/or social services immediately.
• We would encourage everyone who can help others to let their family, friends and
neighbours know if they are available and what they can do to help, whilst following
government advice.
• As the Archbishops have noted, there are many encouraging schemes happening right
now. Do reach out to local foodbanks who will need support at this time1
.
• Remember to consider government guidance regarding social distancing and shielding
for those who are at increased risk from severe illness. Anyone who has been
particularly advised by the government to stay at home should be encouraged to do so.
• There are additional issues to consider if your church/cathedral takes responsibility for
organising a volunteering service. We have been advised by the Office for Civil Society
that new government guidance regarding organised volunteer services is being prepared
and will be available in the coming days. When this information is available the NST will
provide further updates. In the interim, current regulations remain in place.
• Your church/cathedral may already have many volunteers who were previously safely
recruited for other roles. You may wish to ‘re-deploy’ existing volunteers, who were
previously safely recruited, into new voluntary roles to help in the community.
• Do ensure you continue to follow Safer Recruitment practice if welcoming new volunteers
to church-run activities.
1 Check local council websites for your nearest food bank. Many are run by the Trussell Trust.
Version: 24.03.2020
2
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) renewals must still take place when required. The
DBS has provided updated information regarding identity checks in light of COVID-19.
The NST will provide any further relevant information from the DBS as it becomes
available.
FAQs
1. Our church/cathedral would like to help people who are self-isolating with shopping
and other essentials. What do we need to be aware of?
Please note: We have been advised by the Office for Civil Society that new government
guidance regarding organised volunteer services is being prepared and will be available in the
coming days. When this information is available the NST will provide further updates. In the
interim, current regulations remain in place.
Individuals
Wherever possible people who are self-isolating are being encouraged to ask for help from
family, friends, and neighbours. We would encourage everyone who can help others to let their
family, friends and neighbours know if they are available and what they can do to help, whilst
following government advice.
Check your local council website to see what support is available or being set up in your area
and how members of your church may be able to assist.
The Archbishops have particularly highlighted the need to support food banks during this difficult
time. Many may need additional volunteers or donations. Check the website of your local
council to find out about food banks in your area. Many are run by the Trussell Trust, see their
website for more information on how to help.
There is some helpful information for individuals wishing to help neighbours on the National
Council for Voluntary Organisations website, as well as helping older neighbours and
friends/family on the Age UK website. Age UK also have information about their ‘Neighbourly
Volunteering’ service, including a short helpful video about what to consider.
Remember to consider government guidance regarding social distancing, and guidance
regarding shielding for those who are extremely vulnerable. Anyone who has been particularly
advised by the government to stay at home should be encouraged to do so.
If someone declines help, it is important to accept their choice. There may be many reasons for
this. The LGA has advised that anyone who is stuck without food or medical supplies and does
not have any friends and family or neighbours that they know in the area can contact their local
council for support.
If you have safeguarding concerns about a child or adult, contact your DSA within 24 hours. If a
child or adult is in immediate danger or requires medical attention, call the police and/or social
services immediately.
Organised volunteering
If your church/cathedral is taking responsibility for organising a volunteering service (rather than
people helping neighbours or family as private citizens), then you must follow usual safeguarding
policies and practice guidance. These include Safer Recruitment (which also applies to
volunteers), the Parish Safeguarding Handbook and Safer Environment and Activities (which
Version: 24.03.2020
3
provides helpful information about safely leading activities). The DSA must be consulted for
advice.
There is also government guidance about planning the coordination of spontaneous volunteers
in emergencies. Although it is primarily written for agencies involved in emergency planning, it
helpfully highlights different aspects you may wish to consider.
An online group called Covid-19 Mutual Aid (run by volunteers) has some interesting resources,
including aspects of planning and safeguarding you also may wish to consider.
When you are supporting people in the community, do follow the risk assessment guidance
within Safer Environment and Activities (page 11 onwards), and remember:
• Follow all government guidance regarding COVID-19, including in relation to contact with
others.
• Consider how your church/cathedral may safely offer ‘non-contact’ outreach such as
phone calls or supporting existing local foodbanks with donations.
• If appropriate to visit people’s homes/doorsteps, this should take place in pairs. Follow
guidance in Safer Environment and Activities (page 23 onwards), which includes other
information about home visits. Remember to follow government guidance regarding
social distancing. In most cases it will only be appropriate to visit doorsteps.
• If you have safeguarding concerns about a child or adult, contact your DSA within 24
hours. If a child or adult is in immediate danger or requires medical attention, call the
police and/or social services immediately.
• Your church/cathedral may already have many volunteers who were previously safely
recruited for other roles. You may wish to ‘re-deploy’ them into new voluntary roles to
help in the community. Speak to your DSA for advice.
• Do ensure you continue to follow Safer Recruitment practice if welcoming new volunteers
to church-run activities.
• It may be helpful to have an existing volunteer support a new volunteer when undertaking
their volunteer duties (whilst maintaining social distancing).
• Some voluntary roles may not be eligible for an enhanced DBS check because the types
of activity they will be undertaking don’t meet the relevant legal requirements for
eligibility. More information is available in Safer Recruitment. Even if individuals are not
eligible for an enhanced DBS check, you can still seek references; request
CVs/application forms and interview someone to assess their suitability for a role. There
are lots of templates available to help (see Appendices in Safer Recruitment).
• There are some types of activity where an enhanced DBS check (with barring
information) is required. This particularly relates to those roles which work/engage
closely with children or adults at risk. Check Safer Recruitment for more information, and
speak with your HR Advisor or Diocesan Registrar if you are unsure.
• Foundation Safeguarding training is available online to all.
Version: 24.03.2020
4
Q2. Members of our church/cathedral would like to look after other people’s children who
are not at school because their school has closed, what do we need to consider?
First, follow all government guidance regarding COVID-19 and contact with others, including
social distancing. Be aware of government guidance in relation to school and care provision for
the children of ‘key workers’. Many may be able to still access school or nursery provision.
If your church/cathedral is co-ordinating any arrangements (rather than private arrangements
being made between individuals), then you must follow the usual safeguarding policies and
practice guidance. These include Safer Recruitment (which also applies to volunteers), the
Parish Safeguarding Handbook and Safer Environment and Activities (page 17 onwards
includes specific guidance around children’s activities). Consult your Diocesan Safeguarding
Advisor for advice.
Be aware that there are legal requirements that relate to looking after other people’s children.
The Childcare Act 2006 states that childcare is ‘any form of care for a child, including education
or any other supervised activity’. Most people caring for children under eight years old for more
than two hours a day in England must register with Ofsted or a childminder agency. It is a
criminal offence to provide unregistered childcare, or on unapproved premises, if you are legally
required to register. There are some exemptions for registration which can be found here. More
information is also available from Ofsted.
Q3. How will this affect the renewal of DBS checks for all clergy and relevant church
officers?
Safer Recruitment and Safer Recruitment – Permission to Officiate remain in effect and checks
on DBS renewal must still take place. The DBS has provided updated information regarding
identity checks in light of COVID-19. The change will enable:
• ID documents to be viewed over video link
• scanned images to be used in advance of the DBS check being submitted
The applicant will be required to present the original versions of these documents when they first
attend their employment or volunteering role.
The DBS Contact Centre also has amended opening hours , although as of 24th March 2020, the
contact centre is temporarily closed. The NST will provide any further relevant information from
the DBS as it becomes available.
If it is still not possible for someone to renew their DBS whilst self-isolating or shielding, even in
the light of the new arrangements provided by the DBS, then unfortunately the PTO will need to
lapse until the DBS can be renewed. Clear records of any clergy to whom this applies should be
kept. Once the individual is no longer self-isolating, the DBS may be applied for and the PTO
renewed, subject to all other criteria being met.
1
Update from the National Safeguarding Team regarding COVID-19
As the Archbishops of Canterbury and York have said, the Church’s life together will look very
different over the coming period. In particular, the Archbishops have urged the Church to
continue to meet the needs of vulnerable people in our communities. The National Safeguarding
Team has outlined some brief safeguarding advice based on national guidance, to go alongside
advice already being offered by Diocesan Safeguarding Advisers (DSAs).
We hope this will assist dioceses, cathedrals, religious communities and parishes in ensuring
that during these challenging times good safeguarding practice continues to be observed.
The Local Government Association (LGA) has warned of strangers and cold callers trying to
exploit the elderly and vulnerable while we all try to meet the challenge of COVID-19. We must
be alert, support our communities and ensure our outreach and ministry continues to be
compassionate and safe.
We hope the guidance below will assist in ensuring everyone remains as safe as possible during
these unprecedented circumstances, which we expect to continue for some time. The
‘frequently asked questions’ (FAQs) will be made available online in due course and will be
updated as further queries and information become available.
Please be aware that this is an evolving situation, with government departments
providing updated information on an almost daily basis. Advice and responses to FAQs
will be updated as new guidance is provided from the government.
Key points:
• Keep up to date with the latest information from the government regarding COVID-19.
• National safeguarding policies and practice guidance remain in effect and this note is
based on them.
• If you have safeguarding concerns about a child or adult, contact your DSA within 24
hours. If a child or adult is in immediate danger or requires medical attention, call the
police and/or social services immediately.
• We would encourage everyone who can help others to let their family, friends and
neighbours know if they are available and what they can do to help, whilst following
government advice.
• As the Archbishops have noted, there are many encouraging schemes happening right
now. Do reach out to local foodbanks who will need support at this time1
.
• Remember to consider government guidance regarding social distancing and shielding
for those who are at increased risk from severe illness. Anyone who has been
particularly advised by the government to stay at home should be encouraged to do so.
• There are additional issues to consider if your church/cathedral takes responsibility for
organising a volunteering service. We have been advised by the Office for Civil Society
that new government guidance regarding organised volunteer services is being prepared
and will be available in the coming days. When this information is available the NST will
provide further updates. In the interim, current regulations remain in place.
• Your church/cathedral may already have many volunteers who were previously safely
recruited for other roles. You may wish to ‘re-deploy’ existing volunteers, who were
previously safely recruited, into new voluntary roles to help in the community.
• Do ensure you continue to follow Safer Recruitment practice if welcoming new volunteers
to church-run activities.
1 Check local council websites for your nearest food bank. Many are run by the Trussell Trust.
Version: 24.03.2020
2
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) renewals must still take place when required. The
DBS has provided updated information regarding identity checks in light of COVID-19.
The NST will provide any further relevant information from the DBS as it becomes
available.
FAQs
1. Our church/cathedral would like to help people who are self-isolating with shopping
and other essentials. What do we need to be aware of?
Please note: We have been advised by the Office for Civil Society that new government
guidance regarding organised volunteer services is being prepared and will be available in the
coming days. When this information is available the NST will provide further updates. In the
interim, current regulations remain in place.
Individuals
Wherever possible people who are self-isolating are being encouraged to ask for help from
family, friends, and neighbours. We would encourage everyone who can help others to let their
family, friends and neighbours know if they are available and what they can do to help, whilst
following government advice.
Check your local council website to see what support is available or being set up in your area
and how members of your church may be able to assist.
The Archbishops have particularly highlighted the need to support food banks during this difficult
time. Many may need additional volunteers or donations. Check the website of your local
council to find out about food banks in your area. Many are run by the Trussell Trust, see their
website for more information on how to help.
There is some helpful information for individuals wishing to help neighbours on the National
Council for Voluntary Organisations website, as well as helping older neighbours and
friends/family on the Age UK website. Age UK also have information about their ‘Neighbourly
Volunteering’ service, including a short helpful video about what to consider.
Remember to consider government guidance regarding social distancing, and guidance
regarding shielding for those who are extremely vulnerable. Anyone who has been particularly
advised by the government to stay at home should be encouraged to do so.
If someone declines help, it is important to accept their choice. There may be many reasons for
this. The LGA has advised that anyone who is stuck without food or medical supplies and does
not have any friends and family or neighbours that they know in the area can contact their local
council for support.
If you have safeguarding concerns about a child or adult, contact your DSA within 24 hours. If a
child or adult is in immediate danger or requires medical attention, call the police and/or social
services immediately.
Organised volunteering
If your church/cathedral is taking responsibility for organising a volunteering service (rather than
people helping neighbours or family as private citizens), then you must follow usual safeguarding
policies and practice guidance. These include Safer Recruitment (which also applies to
volunteers), the Parish Safeguarding Handbook and Safer Environment and Activities (which
Version: 24.03.2020
3
provides helpful information about safely leading activities). The DSA must be consulted for
advice.
There is also government guidance about planning the coordination of spontaneous volunteers
in emergencies. Although it is primarily written for agencies involved in emergency planning, it
helpfully highlights different aspects you may wish to consider.
An online group called Covid-19 Mutual Aid (run by volunteers) has some interesting resources,
including aspects of planning and safeguarding you also may wish to consider.
When you are supporting people in the community, do follow the risk assessment guidance
within Safer Environment and Activities (page 11 onwards), and remember:
• Follow all government guidance regarding COVID-19, including in relation to contact with
others.
• Consider how your church/cathedral may safely offer ‘non-contact’ outreach such as
phone calls or supporting existing local foodbanks with donations.
• If appropriate to visit people’s homes/doorsteps, this should take place in pairs. Follow
guidance in Safer Environment and Activities (page 23 onwards), which includes other
information about home visits. Remember to follow government guidance regarding
social distancing. In most cases it will only be appropriate to visit doorsteps.
• If you have safeguarding concerns about a child or adult, contact your DSA within 24
hours. If a child or adult is in immediate danger or requires medical attention, call the
police and/or social services immediately.
• Your church/cathedral may already have many volunteers who were previously safely
recruited for other roles. You may wish to ‘re-deploy’ them into new voluntary roles to
help in the community. Speak to your DSA for advice.
• Do ensure you continue to follow Safer Recruitment practice if welcoming new volunteers
to church-run activities.
• It may be helpful to have an existing volunteer support a new volunteer when undertaking
their volunteer duties (whilst maintaining social distancing).
• Some voluntary roles may not be eligible for an enhanced DBS check because the types
of activity they will be undertaking don’t meet the relevant legal requirements for
eligibility. More information is available in Safer Recruitment. Even if individuals are not
eligible for an enhanced DBS check, you can still seek references; request
CVs/application forms and interview someone to assess their suitability for a role. There
are lots of templates available to help (see Appendices in Safer Recruitment).
• There are some types of activity where an enhanced DBS check (with barring
information) is required. This particularly relates to those roles which work/engage
closely with children or adults at risk. Check Safer Recruitment for more information, and
speak with your HR Advisor or Diocesan Registrar if you are unsure.
• Foundation Safeguarding training is available online to all.
Version: 24.03.2020
4
Q2. Members of our church/cathedral would like to look after other people’s children who
are not at school because their school has closed, what do we need to consider?
First, follow all government guidance regarding COVID-19 and contact with others, including
social distancing. Be aware of government guidance in relation to school and care provision for
the children of ‘key workers’. Many may be able to still access school or nursery provision.
If your church/cathedral is co-ordinating any arrangements (rather than private arrangements
being made between individuals), then you must follow the usual safeguarding policies and
practice guidance. These include Safer Recruitment (which also applies to volunteers), the
Parish Safeguarding Handbook and Safer Environment and Activities (page 17 onwards
includes specific guidance around children’s activities). Consult your Diocesan Safeguarding
Advisor for advice.
Be aware that there are legal requirements that relate to looking after other people’s children.
The Childcare Act 2006 states that childcare is ‘any form of care for a child, including education
or any other supervised activity’. Most people caring for children under eight years old for more
than two hours a day in England must register with Ofsted or a childminder agency. It is a
criminal offence to provide unregistered childcare, or on unapproved premises, if you are legally
required to register. There are some exemptions for registration which can be found here. More
information is also available from Ofsted.
Q3. How will this affect the renewal of DBS checks for all clergy and relevant church
officers?
Safer Recruitment and Safer Recruitment – Permission to Officiate remain in effect and checks
on DBS renewal must still take place. The DBS has provided updated information regarding
identity checks in light of COVID-19. The change will enable:
• ID documents to be viewed over video link
• scanned images to be used in advance of the DBS check being submitted
The applicant will be required to present the original versions of these documents when they first
attend their employment or volunteering role.
The DBS Contact Centre also has amended opening hours , although as of 24th March 2020, the
contact centre is temporarily closed. The NST will provide any further relevant information from
the DBS as it becomes available.
If it is still not possible for someone to renew their DBS whilst self-isolating or shielding, even in
the light of the new arrangements provided by the DBS, then unfortunately the PTO will need to
lapse until the DBS can be renewed. Clear records of any clergy to whom this applies should be
kept. Once the individual is no longer self-isolating, the DBS may be applied for and the PTO
renewed, subject to all other criteria being met.
Coronavirus COVID-19 Update 24 March 2020
The Church is alive and active, but our buildings must close for a while.
As more people fall sick with Coronavirus COVID-19, we must distance ourselves from one another and prevent the spread of infection in order to save lives
Therefore, this and all church buildings in the Church of England are now closed both for
public worship services and for private prayer.
Our worship of God and our care for each other continue, but cannot be in this building until further notice
The vicar/churchwardens of this church can be contacted in an emergency
by telephoning 01723 363828 (Vicar) or 01723 350454 / 01262 470324 (Churchwardens)
or emailing frdavidstmart@gmail.com
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength…
Love your neighbour as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these”
To protect the vulnerable amongst us, please do not leave your home except for essential trips.
The Church is alive and active, but our buildings must close for a while.
As more people fall sick with Coronavirus COVID-19, we must distance ourselves from one another and prevent the spread of infection in order to save lives
Therefore, this and all church buildings in the Church of England are now closed both for
public worship services and for private prayer.
Our worship of God and our care for each other continue, but cannot be in this building until further notice
The vicar/churchwardens of this church can be contacted in an emergency
by telephoning 01723 363828 (Vicar) or 01723 350454 / 01262 470324 (Churchwardens)
or emailing frdavidstmart@gmail.com
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength…
Love your neighbour as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these”
To protect the vulnerable amongst us, please do not leave your home except for essential trips.
Archbishops call for Church of England to become radically different as public worship put on hold to help stem spread of coronavirus
The Archbishops of Canterbury and York are calling for Church of England churches to put public worship on hold and become a “different sort of church” in the coming months to face the challenge of coronavirus.In a joint letter, Archbishops Justin Welby and John Sentamu said it was now necessary to put public services on hold until further notice.
But they said that far from having to “shut up shop”, the Church of England must face the challenge by becoming a radically different kind of church rooted in prayer and serving others.
It comes after the Government announced unprecedented peacetime measures to try to control the spread of the virus, with restrictions on public gatherings, transport and working.
The Archbishops expressed the desire that church buildings may, where practical, remain open as places of prayer for the community, observing social distancing recommendations.
They also invited clergy to maintain the ancient pattern of daily prayer and, where possible, the eucharist – live streaming their worship if they have the resources to do so.
And they urged congregations to be in the forefront of providing practical care and support for the most poor and the most vulnerable during the crisis.
“Being a part of the Church of England is going to look very different in the days ahead,” they wrote.
“Our life is going to be less characterised by attendance at church on Sunday, and more characterised by the prayer and service we offer each day.
“We may not be able to pray with people in the ways that we are used to, but we can certainly pray for people. And we can certainly offer practical care and support.
“Please do carry on supporting the local foodbank and buy extra provisions for it. Ensure the night shelters wherever possible are kept open. There are many very encouraging schemes happening right across our country in communities to focus on caring for the most vulnerable and do continue to play your part in those.
“Then by our service, and by our love, Jesus Christ will be made known, and the hope of the gospel – a hope that can counter fear and isolation - will spread across our land.”
They added: “This is a defining moment for the Church of England. Are we truly are a church for all, or just the church for ourselves.
“We urge you sisters and brothers to become a different sort of church in these coming months: hopeful and rooted in the offering of prayer and praise and overflowing in service to the world.”
The archbishops have joined other church leaders in calling for a day of prayer and action this Sunday (Mothering Sunday) particularly remembering those who are sick or anxious and all involved in health and emergency services.
Further information on what the suspension of public worship will mean will be available as soon as possible on the Church of England website. This page will be regularly updated.
The Church will be providing a range of resources to enable people to continue to walk with God at this difficult time. This includes #LiveLent daily reflections, prayer for the day audio and text and Alexa and Google Home smart speaker apps.
But they said that far from having to “shut up shop”, the Church of England must face the challenge by becoming a radically different kind of church rooted in prayer and serving others.
It comes after the Government announced unprecedented peacetime measures to try to control the spread of the virus, with restrictions on public gatherings, transport and working.
The Archbishops expressed the desire that church buildings may, where practical, remain open as places of prayer for the community, observing social distancing recommendations.
They also invited clergy to maintain the ancient pattern of daily prayer and, where possible, the eucharist – live streaming their worship if they have the resources to do so.
And they urged congregations to be in the forefront of providing practical care and support for the most poor and the most vulnerable during the crisis.
“Being a part of the Church of England is going to look very different in the days ahead,” they wrote.
“Our life is going to be less characterised by attendance at church on Sunday, and more characterised by the prayer and service we offer each day.
“We may not be able to pray with people in the ways that we are used to, but we can certainly pray for people. And we can certainly offer practical care and support.
“Please do carry on supporting the local foodbank and buy extra provisions for it. Ensure the night shelters wherever possible are kept open. There are many very encouraging schemes happening right across our country in communities to focus on caring for the most vulnerable and do continue to play your part in those.
“Then by our service, and by our love, Jesus Christ will be made known, and the hope of the gospel – a hope that can counter fear and isolation - will spread across our land.”
They added: “This is a defining moment for the Church of England. Are we truly are a church for all, or just the church for ourselves.
“We urge you sisters and brothers to become a different sort of church in these coming months: hopeful and rooted in the offering of prayer and praise and overflowing in service to the world.”
The archbishops have joined other church leaders in calling for a day of prayer and action this Sunday (Mothering Sunday) particularly remembering those who are sick or anxious and all involved in health and emergency services.
Further information on what the suspension of public worship will mean will be available as soon as possible on the Church of England website. This page will be regularly updated.
The Church will be providing a range of resources to enable people to continue to walk with God at this difficult time. This includes #LiveLent daily reflections, prayer for the day audio and text and Alexa and Google Home smart speaker apps.
