ONE of the largest churches in Northern Ireland has re-opened its doors after being hit by a coronavirus outbreak before Christmas.
Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle in north Belfast closed last November after six pastors and some members of the congregation contracted Covid-19.
On Sunday, the pentecostal church - which once counted former DUP leader and First Minister Peter Robinson and his wife Iris among its congregation - held a service as part of a "phased and measured" return to public worship.
In a statement, the church leaders said: "This decision has been made taking into account the available data and also bearing in mind the needs of our congregation."
Those attending were asked to obey social distancing and public health measures, with masks to be worn and "absolutely no hand shaking or hugging".
Online services are continuing.
Whitewall was one of several Protestant evangelical churches forced to close during the pre-Christmas second wave when transmission rates soared.
Three Free Presbyterian churches - Hebron in Ballymoney, Co Antrim, and Hillsborough and Moneyslane in Co Down -were among those hit.
In January, the north's main church denominations ceased public worship.
