Coronavirus Update: 1st July 2020

Dear Friends

As you may know, from the 4th July 2020 government guidance for places of worship is changing.

On Wednesday (1st July 2020) our committee and trustees held another joint meeting to update our plan for reopening the Church building.

We agreed that, at this time, we could not hold a meaningful Divine Service in the church building.

This is due to COVID-Secure controls which include:

  • Physical distancing of 2meters,
  • Reduced seating capacity,
  • Contact tracing where necessary,
  • No singing,
  • No refreshments
  • Increased cleaning & sanitisation.

However, since the start of the pandemic we have maintained a risk assessment and associated COVID-Secure guidance to ensure that we do have the capability to open the Church building safely when the time comes.

We have agreed to monitor the situation and are considering other types of events which we can hold safely within the Church.

Everyone at Thundersley is desperately eager to reopen the church and rejoin our friends in love and light, so the decision to remain closed has not been taken lightly. ?

However we must recognise our responsibility for protecting those who enter the Church. For many the consequences of contracting Coronavirus would be devastating and the knock-on impact for all attendees who would have to self-isolate for 14 days would be severe. ?

It’s on that judgement that we believe the risks still outweigh the benefits. ⚖️

As you know, throughout lockdown we have worked hard to find other ways to reach our community, including a weekly coffee morning continued a Healing Circle online and an Online Divine Service every Sunday. ?

We’ll continue to do our best to continue the Church work both online and offline.?

From all at T.C.S.C. ?