Northern Ireland

80 per cent of parishes in diocese of Down and Connor have returned to public worship

Around 80 per cent of parishes in the diocese of Down and Connor have returned to public worship
Around 80 per cent of parishes in the diocese of Down and Connor have returned to public worship Around 80 per cent of parishes in the diocese of Down and Connor have returned to public worship

AROUND 80 per cent of parishes in the diocese of Down and Connor have returned to public worship amid the relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions.

Churches across Northern Ireland closed in mid-March as part of the public health measures introduced to slow the spread of coronavirus.

But a spokesman for the Down and Connor diocese last night said 72 or its 87 parishes have "put in place public worship" as a relaxation of lockdown measures have been introduced.

He also said that in Belfast alone, 31 of the 36 parishes have returned.

In May, churches in the north were given permission to reopen for private, individual prayer, as long as strict social distancing and hygiene measures were in place. Drive-in services were also allowed.

The Stormont Executive last month announced that churches in the north were able to resume public worship from June 29.

The diocese has issued guidance to its congregations on how public worship is carried out, including social distancing restrictions and sanitisation procedures.

While the majority of parishes in the diocese have returned to public worship, a number have yet to return to begin operating again.

The spokesman said that churches can return "as and when it is safe to do so". He said risk assessments are carried out by each parish before measures are put in place that comply with coronavirus restrictions.

He said among the reasons for some parishes not yet re-opening for public worship are, priests still shielding as well issues around securing people to become involved in stewarding and sanitising.