Re-start of Public Worship at St Cross from 2nd August- a letter from Fr Chris

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I am delighted to be able to write to you to let you know that St Cross Church will reopen for public worship on Sunday August 2nd 2020 at the usual time of 10.30am. In line with governmental and diocesan guidance, the Standing Committee has met and carried out a thorough risk assessment and we are confident that we can conduct our worship safely by making several changes to how we do things and we thank you for your cooperation in advance. The key differences will be as follows:

As worshippers arrive they will be asked to book in with a sidesperson. This for track & trace purposes. We will only keep details for 21 days.

Worshippers will also be asked to sanitise their hands upon arrival. There will be 4 additional hand sanitation points in the central aisle for communicants to sanitise their hands before receiving communion.

A sidesperson will assist worshippers in finding somewhere to sit that allows for social distancing. Additional chairs will be brought into the nave from the Church Centre to add seating capacity to the space and facilitate social distancing. 

Everyone will be given their own Order of Service which we ask be brought back each week. This is so that we don’t have to photocopy single use alternatives on a weekly basis. 

There will be a one-way system around the church which will be clearly marked. 

Sunday School will remain suspended for the time being which means that children should remain with their parents or guardians. Pewbags will not be available and so we advise parents with young children to bring materials with them to keep the children occupied during the service. 

There will be no singing of hymns. Pre-and post-service music will be played from CDs as well as music during communion. 

There will be no sharing of the peace through physical contact.

Holy Communion will be distributed in one kind only (bread no wine). Communicants will be asked to line up in the central aisle, one behind the other to receive. The priest will say, ‘The Body of Christ’ once only. 

Worshippers will be dismissed one row at a time by the sidespersons so as to stagger dismissal and avoid a crush in the porch area.

If possible we ask worshippers to set up a standing order directly to St Cross PCC's bank account to minimise contact from cash donations. [Details here.] Where this is not possible, we ask that cash or envelope donations be placed in the receptacle set aside,  

Only the Disabled Toilet will be open for use during the service.  

There will be no refreshments served after the service.

For those who are not ready to return to public worship, the service will be livestreamed on the St Cross YouTube Channel. Click here for more details and a link to the channel. 


I’m so sorry if this all sounds a bit draconian but it is absolutely necessary to make these changes so as to create a space which is Covid-secure and to give you the confidence you need to enjoy the worship and feel relaxed. I am so looking forward to seeing you on the 2nd August and to worshipping with you again as a family.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me on 07793144841 or 0161 223 0766.

Much love,

Fr Chris