Northern Ireland

Historic St Mary's in Belfast city centre church to open today for private prayer

St Mary's Church in Chapel Lane, Belfast prepares to open today. Picture by Mal McCann
St Mary's Church in Chapel Lane, Belfast prepares to open today. Picture by Mal McCann St Mary's Church in Chapel Lane, Belfast prepares to open today. Picture by Mal McCann

A HISTORIC Belfast city centre church will open today following the gradual easing of lockdown restrictions in Northern Ireland.

While the outside grotto at St Mary's on Chapel Lane re-opened on Saturday, the church itself will open today with social distancing rules allowing for just 30 people compared to the usual 400 to 500 capacity.

It comes as a number of churches held drive-in services yesterday allowing parishioners to join together for the first time in months after the Stormont Executive last week said drive-in services could resume as part of the easing of restrictions.

At Maghaberry Elim Church, Pastor Brian Madden was happy to be able to deliver his service in front of church members.

Social distancing measures meant parishioners were not allowed to leave their vehicles and people were asked to take their own communion. The congregation sang hymns and said prayers throughout the 40-minute service.

Mr Madden, who was diagnosed with Covid-19 seven weeks ago, but is fully recovered, said: "The people all love coming out in their cars and seeing each other.

"They haven't seen each other in nearly seven weeks and even if it's just a quick wave, it's a big thing for them and they always enjoy seeing each other."

Harry Young from Belfast, who has been going to Elim church for 10 years, was one of the many who attended the drive-in.

"It brings us a lot of comfort being here. You miss people and being with them so it's nice being together outside."

At Dunsverick Baptist Church, around 100 people gathered in their cars to hear the service delivered by Pastor Billy Jones

He has been running services in his church's car park close to the Giants Causeway for a number of years, but was forced to suspend than when the social distancing measures were announced.

He said he delivered a message of "hope in darkness" to worshippers.

Today sees St Mary's - the first Catholic church in Belfast city centre - re-open while Clonard Monastery in west Belfast opened for private prayer last Thursday.

Fr Tim Bartlett told the PA news agency: "We are absolutely thrilled about the prospect of opening and we have been inundated with phone calls about when will we be reopening because we are city centre and people come from all over and indeed from many different denominations to this church to prayer."

They have introduced a one-way system, social distancing and will clean the seats every 15 minutes as part of the re-opening.

Fr Bartlett said they also have separated the prayer candles to reduce risk of cross-infection, but he would "encourage people particularly to light candles in prayer for our NHS workers, our key workers and carers at this time".