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Concerns for future of Church after pandemic
Churchgoers and clergy alike are concerned that the pandemic has put the future of their parish churches in doubt, according to research from the University of Warwick and York St John University.
The first national lockdown closed churches across the UK and severely restricted ministry in areas such as pastoral care, fellowship groups, and serving the community. Church services moved online with varying degrees of success.
The Coronavirus, Church & You survey, a major study of the impact of the lockdown on churchgoers, clergy and lay people was conducted online from May to July 2020, and gathered more than 10,000 responses. A second iteration of the survey is currently in progress.
Faith and Covid: Majority of churchgoers want return to old worship patterns Rite & Reason: Survey says online services were accessed by 87% of Irish respondents
Tue, May 11, 2021, 01:00 Gareth Byrne, Bernadette Sweetman
Will the return to public worship be solely a return, or will it offer a path to a better future? Photograph: iStock
Mother Teresa is quoted as saying: “Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you.” Commentary by Pope Francis on the importance of the “culture of encounter”, central to his book Let Us Dream: The Path to a Better Future also comes to mind.
York s universities have reported an increase in the number of Covid cases YORK S universities have reported a rise in the number of Covid cases at a time when the rate is falling nationwide. City of York Council s latest Covid data tracker report said that as of last Monday, York St John University reported five individuals within the university community who were currently self-isolating because they had had a positive Covid-19 test. The number compares with zero earlier in the month. The report said that as of April 23, the University of York reported three individuals within the university community who were currently self-isolating because they had had a positive COVID-19 test.
Residents are being urged to take Covid tests A NEW coronavirus rapid testing site will open in a York library - as walk-in appointments are launched across the city s test centres. Residents can get tested at Acomb Explore Library from May 5 on Wednesdays from 10am to 2pm or Saturdays from 10am to 3pm. People can also collect tests for home use. Public health leaders are encouraging residents to take a Covid-19 rapid test twice a week, even if they do not have symptoms. Appointments can be booked online or people can turn up without a booking at any of the test centres from May 5 - including the York Leisure Centre at the stadium, the University of York, York St John University and Foxwood Community Centre.