We are following the current guidance issued by the Church of England, in relation to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. For information, please go to: https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-churches
Church opening
Permission has now been given to open our churches for private prayer and services. Because the COVID-19 virus can settle on surfaces for up to 72 hours we cannot yet return to normal opening. Full details of opening times and services are listed below.
Funerals and weddings may now take place in Church with appropriate social distancing and no more than 30 people.
Church Opening Times for Private Prayer
Ampleforth: Wednesdays 10am to 12 noon
Sundays 10am to 4 pm
Oswaldkirk Wednesdays 09.30 am to dusk or 1800
Sundays 09.30 am to dusk or 1800
Gilling Wednesdays 09.30 am to dusk or 1800
Sundays 09.30 am to dusk or 1800
Stonegrave: Sundays 1200-1500
For Church Service Schedule Click Here
The Church of England and Diocese of York have given comprehensive guidance for re-opening our churches for Private Prayer and services. Here are some of the salient points:
Face masks must be worn in church.
Hands must be sanitised on entry and on leaving
Holy Communion is permitted in one kind. The bread for the congregation will be covered whilst it is consecrated. Communicants must sanitise their hands immediately before receiving. The host will be given without touching the recipient’s hands. Communicants are asked to stand rather than kneel at the altar.
The two-metre ‘rule’ applies for public worship except in situations where closer contact cannot be avoided. Individuals and family groups must be two metres apart.
Single use service sheets will be employed. We cannot use prayer books or hymn books because of the risk of transmission.
While those at extra risk and the ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ should be advised of the risks of attending public worship, a decision to do so is theirs alone.
There can be no singing apart from a lone cantor. The organ can be in use.