No date yet for return of singing in public worship

 (Photo: Unsplash/Carolina Jacomin)

The Government is still not able to say when singing will be allowed again during public worship in churches.

The question was raised in the House of Lords this week by the Bishop of Leeds, Nick Baines, during comments on the successful rollout of the vaccine.

"Churches, clergy and chaplains have been very involved in pastoral care and in support of the dying and the bereaved, even when buildings have been closed," he said. 

He added, however, that there was now "big concern" about not being able to sing at in-person services over Holy Week and Easter. 

"Can the Minister offer a roadmap for when singing by choirs and congregations will once again be allowed, with sufficient time to prepare?" he said. 

Answering on behalf of the Government, Lord Bethell, said he was "entirely sympathetic" to the question raised by the bishop but that there was no roadmap yet for singing again in church. 

He said the Government would be following the advice of public health officials. 

"I cannot think of anything nicer than spending Easter at Salisbury Cathedral listening to the beautiful singing of the choir there. We will be led, however, by the public health practicalities on that," he said. 

"It has been one of the most heartbreaking aspects of this pandemic that those who seek sanctuary through worship have not been able to join the rest of their community, but the practicalities of the spread of the virus are unavoidable, so we will be led by public health advice in this matter.

"I do not have a date for his roadmap, I fear, but his considerations are very much understood in the department."

 

News
Nigeria: all Christians kidnapped by bandits now free
Nigeria: all Christians kidnapped by bandits now free

They are said to be in generally good condition.

Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years in prison
Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years in prison

The 78-year-old Catholic and founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper was convicted in December on two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces to endanger national security and one count of conspiracy to publish seditious articles.

Archbishop Mullally uses maiden presidential address to re-commit to better safeguarding standards
Archbishop Mullally uses maiden presidential address to re-commit to better safeguarding standards

Dame Sarah Mullally has used her maiden presidential address to Synod as Archbishop of Canterbury to lament the Church of England's past failings on safeguarding and double down on raising standards. 

Cuban bishops warn oil sanctions could deepen hardship and unrest
Cuban bishops warn oil sanctions could deepen hardship and unrest

The message, read in Catholic parishes nationwide, warned that further pressure on fuel access would fall most heavily on vulnerable families already struggling to survive.