CHURCHES in Hackney have been told to suspend physical contact during services and scale back Holy Communion in an effort to stem the spread of coronavirus.
Guidelines issued to churches this week by the Archdiocese of London, which governs Church of England places of worship across the capital, include restricting communion wine to just the priest, asking priests not to touch the child during baptisms, and suspending handshaking during the sharing of the peace.
Al Gordon, rector of Hackney Church, said: “As a church community, we want to play our part in limiting the spread of the virus, as well as offering our prayers and support to those affected.”
No plans to stop public services
Father Luke Miller, Archdeacon of London, has said that changes to the Holy Communion don’t affect the rite’s sanctity.
He said: “It is Anglican teaching that to receive the sacrament in one kind only is to receive the sacrament in its entirety.”
However, Hackney Church has no plans at present to restrict or stop public services as a whole.
Italian quarantine repercussions
The move comes after the announcement of a quarantine in Italy, which has stopped all public gatherings, including religious ceremonies like marriages and funerals, for 60 million people.
The country has seen more than 10,000 infected with the virus and 631 deaths, the highest number of cases outside of China. The Vatican has reported one case.
Hackney Methodist Church’s minister, the Rev Andrew Letby suggested there are no plans to halt or change public services at his church, but said he “will work with the situation as it evolves”.
He added: “It is entirely possible to have a service after the body has been cremated.”
Andrew Kersley is a freelance journalist and student at City University. His previous work has been published in The Times and The i Paper.