Coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance

An online condolence book is now open for individuals and communities to record messages.

The Government guidance is that books of condolence should be online only and should be opened on the first working day after the day of death. Local discussions will need to be held with the appropriate local council to decide upon the appropriate way to put these in place as they may have local online arrangements, or whether to point people to the nationally available versions.  Coronavirus restrictions continue to apply with commemorations and further guidance may be given by the Government on this.

Please see our guide to the four stages of the Government roadmap. We will provide more advice about how this will affect worship and other church activities as we receive information from government. These pages will be reviewed and updated as the changes come into effect.  

Please see our guidance on what is currently permitted under the Government’s Roadmap.

If you want to give thanks for receiving your vaccination, or to donate to charities who are helping to ensure that every community is supported, the following suggestions are among ways this can be done:

• The Church of England helped to bring about the vaccinaid.org campaign with Unicef and Crowdfunder, which is seeking to help provide more than 2.5 billion vaccines worldwide. Donations can be made directly, or communities can set up local fundraisers to contribute together.
• Christian Aid’s Give Thanks campaign is focusing on humanitarian support including food, water and healthcare in areas where the vaccine is not currently available.
• In addition, the Church of England has worked with yourneighbour.org on the Give Hope Campaign which works to target misinformation and encourage everyone to take up the offer of a vaccination. 

A number of churches and cathedrals are being used as vaccination centres.

Churches may be contacted by local health authorities if deemed suitable, but are currently advised not to initiate requests to avoid pressure on the system.

Please see churches as vaccination centres for more information.

Please see the following:

• Vaccines information

Please see our guidance document for information on preparing for Lent, Holy Week and Easter.

Please also see resources for #LiveLent 2021.

Individuals can check if and where they can take a lateral flow test by checking their local authority website.

Organisations can apply for free lateral flow tests if they are:

•    A company registered in England
•    Their employees cannot work from home
•    They can supply a company registration name, number and email.
 

Applications must be made here before 31st March.

Yes, please see our guidance on individual prayer.

If your church is opening for Individual prayer or public worship, please complete a risk assessment. 

Yes, please see our guidance for conducting public worship for more information.

• From the 28th March indoors: a single small group of singers - whether amateur or professional - will be allowed to perform, or rehearse for performance, only where essential to an act of communal worship. This should be limited to as few singers as possible. Communal singing should not take place and strict physical distancing should be observed.
• From the 28th March outdoors: when communal worship takes place in the grounds or the outside space of a place of worship, the congregation may join in with singing, and should follow the principles set out in the Performing Arts guidance. This includes ensuring that congregation members follow physical distancing rules. Social contact limits apply, meaning that households, support bubbles or groups of 2 must not mingle. Communal singing in other public open spaces should not take place. From the 29th March the new social contact limits apply, meaning the Rule of 6 applies unless all involved are from the same household or 2 linked households.

Please see our guidance on the Administration of Holy Communion

And also on Receiving Holy Communion by simultaneous administration

Please see our guidance on face coverings.

Yes, please see our guidance document here.

CCLI

CCLI introduced a streaming licence in mid-March 2020. It is available to any church which holds a CCLI Church Copyright Licence, which the majority of Church of England churches do. For many churches, this licence will cover them for their streaming activity:

• For churches who are streaming their services via YouTube or Facebook, the CCLI Streaming Licence will cover them for live worship music performed as part of that stream. (This would include services streamed or webcast via YouTube but embedded into the church’s own website).
• You can check on the CCLI website as to whether permissions for a particular hymn or song are covered by them.
• If the church is hosting the stream/webcast on their own website, they will need the PRS for Music Limited Online Music Licence (LOML) in addition to the CCLI Streaming Licence.
• The CCLI Streaming Licence includes the right to show the words on screen.
• The CCLI Streaming Licence allows a church to make recordings of the services available on their website indefinitely provided you keep renewing your streaming licences.
• These licences cover ‘live’ music performances. If a church is using recorded music as part of the stream, additional rights come into play. Commercially available CDs or music recordings cannot be played unless specific permission is granted by the copyright holder.

One Licence

• Another license, One License is available which covers an additional range of church and choral music e.g. Taize, GIA Publications, Oxford University Press, Wild Goose Resource Group, Kevin Mayhew.
• The Church of England uses both a One Licence and CCLI Streaming Licence for the weekly online services to enable access to a broad range of Christian music.
• The same rules described above over seeking permission for ‘recorded’ performance still apply.

Rights-free music from the Church of England, St Martin in the Fields and the Royal School of Church Music

• The Church of England, working with St Martin-in-the-Fields and the Royal School of Church Music, is providing a resource of rights-free music for Church of England churches to use on streamed services, via the A Church Near You resource hub providing you have a CCLI Streaming Licence. Read the press release for more details.
• There are several other  Christian organisations that provide apps or software that provide backing tracks for worship, some of which are giving churches permission to use their pre-recorded tracks as part of their streams. Please carefully check first before using this material.

Using other copyrighted material

• Permission should also be sought from the owner(s) of any other creative works included in the service. If reproducing bible verses, or liturgy, usually there will be copyright information in the front of the publication, and usually they will allow for a certain proportion to be reproduced.
• For any images etc. the same rules would apply as in normal circumstances. Never assume that you can take an image found on Google and use it in a church service or include it in a service sheet or similar without permission. Read our guidance on using images here.
• Regarding a Service Sheet, as long as there are appropriate licences/permissions in place, making that service sheet available online should be fine.

Advice on using Zoom to stream services

• Churches using Zoom to stream services need both the CCLI Streaming Licence and the PRS for Music LOML. This is because Zoom doesn’t currently have an agreement with PRS for Music as YouTube and Facebook do.

Please see our guidance document.

Please see our guidance on suspending public worship

Funerals can go ahead, but please see specific funerals guidance for more information.

Further information is also available on the Government's places of worship guidance.

Please see our guidance on conducting weddings.

Yes. Please see our guidance on baptisms 

Foodbanks and services such as GoodSAM should continue where possible, as they have throughout lockdown.

Anyone running a food bank should follow the advice found on the Trussell Trust’s website.

Such services should always be notified to your insurer, and any special conditions requested by them complied with.

Yes. Donating blood is an essential activity, and has been permitted in churches throughout lockdown.

Please consult Housing Justice, which has detailed specific advice for night shelters.

See also the latest Government guidance for night shelters.

Yes, you are still able to visit other people’s homes for work purposes. Please see our guidance for advice on doing so.

• Only groups that support vulnerable children and young people. Details of what groups these include are provided by the NYA.

See also the Government guidance on community facilities

Read our guidance document on Using church buildings for public worship, individual prayer and funerals. 

It is strongly recommended that churches register for the NHS test and trace app and encourage all who enter the building to check in. Where this is not possible, a local system may be used. Guidance for churches including using the NHS test and trace app and other methods of collecting data may be found in our guidance document.

You may, depending on what you need to install. Advice on gaining permission for temporary additions can be downloaded from our website.

Read our guidance document on Keeping church buildings clean. This advice is based on the Government guidance on how to work safely during coronavirus, and guidance issued by Historic England.

It is possible to carry out construction work.

Read our guidance documents on Opening church buildings for works to the building and interior and Risk assessment template for contractors and construction workers.

Yes, see our full guidance here.

The Government has set out advice for the safe use of multi-purpose community facilities, which can be found here.

Yes, places of worship may open for early years childcare provided by a person registered on the Early Years Register under Part 3 of the Childcare Act 2006. For more information see the DfE website.

Early Years provision in church halls or other buildings not designated places of worship is also permitted, subject to the same rules as other school and nursery settings.

Places of Worship must continue to meet all existing health and safety obligations with regard to ensuring that their premises are safe for providers to hire and to operate from. Once Early Year providers reopen and are operating from premises in Community Settings and Places of Worship, it is for the early years provider to ensure that they are following government guidance on implementing protective measures in education and childcare settings, as well as all existing requirements set out in the statutory framework for the EYFS.

See the DfE website for full guidance

Parochial church councils can, if they wish, meet using virtual means such as Teams or Zoom which enable the members to see and hear each other.

However, care must be taken so that members of a PCC who are unable to participate in a meeting in that way are not excluded from the PCC’s deliberations and decision making. The Chair should take steps to ensure that they are able to participate so far as possible, including where necessary by means of the procedure for conducting business by correspondence set out in rule M29 of the Church Representation Rules.

Following a virtual meeting, decisions such as the authorising of expenditure, entering into contracts or those that require a formal resolution of the PCC should be put in written form and circulated for formal approval under the correspondence procedure in rule M29 (which under Rule 76 can be conducted by email).

Churches rely on the generosity of their congregations and their communities to support their mission and ministry. Many people give regularly to their church by standing order or direct debit. Others give in cash when the offering is taken in a church service or when visiting the church, and people will not be able to give in this way whilst our church buildings are closed.

Many individuals are going through financial uncertainty as a result of lost or changed employment during the restrictions, and that may affect their giving too. This means that it is even more important that those who can give are able to do so. You could consider including an update in a bulletin or online parish magazine to let people know how to go about giving online or by standing order or direct debit.

For further guidance visit Parish Resources.

The legislation for Step 1 of coming out of lockdown does not permit physical meeting in churches or other buildings other than for communal worship or the provision of essential voluntary and public services. These restrictions mean currently if you can, you should hold PCC or APCM meetings online or by telephone. However, if you cannot do this, you can hold these meetings in person only if this is necessary to provide voluntary or charitable services.

The 4 Step plan from the Government indicates that physical meetings can go ahead from Step 3. The earliest date for Step 3 to come into effect is the 17th May, but this could be later depending on the situation at the time. 

The Church Representation Rules allow for APCM meetings to take place up to 31st May and individual dioceses may choose to extend that deadline. If a parish holds a meeting before Step 3 is reached it should do so remotely - in the case of an annual meeting that requires special provision to be made by the Bishop. Some Bishops may give a general permission for APCMs including meetings of parishioners to take place online. If you are unsure about the deadline for holding your APCM or what special provision to meet remotely has been made in your diocese then please consult with your Archdeacon.

For a physical meeting, as for a hybrid or online meeting, Sections M5-M7 of the Church Representation Rules must be covered but trying to reduce the length of the meeting is advised. Widely sharing papers in advance of meetings will enable the time spent to be kept as short as is needed, rather than reading papers out at the meeting, and submitting questions in advance may also help reduce the meeting time.

All parishes can now complete a risk assessment to help them prepare to re-open their church building(s).

Those in the clinically extremely vulnerable group can now go back to work from the 1^st August if their workplace is ‘COVID-secure’ but should carry on working from home if they can. Please see our guidance document for details.

The Government has advised: ‘You are strongly advised to work from home because the risk of exposure to the virus in your area may currently be higher. If you cannot work from home, then you should not attend work. This includes all clergy and lay volunteers and workers with churches.’

For more information please see:

• Government Guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19
• Church of England guidance on personal risk factors

There is a section on the homepage of the safeguarding area of the Church of England website which is updated with COVID-19 advice.

Domestic abuse may affect anyone at any time, but the isolation resulting from COVID-19 is particularly affecting victims/survivors of domestic abuse.

For more information please see our advice on safeguarding matters during the COVID-19 restrictions.

Schools are being asked to continue to provide care for a limited number of children, including those whose parents are key workers.

The Government has published a list of categories of workers whose children will be prioritised. It includes “religious staff”.

The full list can be seen here

View any updates made to the page, with the most recent listed first.

Last updated: Friday 26 March, 15:11

Updated Documents:

• Conducting public worship
• Weddings

Update FAQS:

• Is singing permitted? in the Prayer and Worship section
• Can weddings go ahead? in Life Events section

Thursday 25 March, 13:37

Updated Documents:

• Permitted Activities under national 'step' regulations
• Advice for Services during Lent, Holy Week and Easter
• Risk assessment template for opening church buildings
• Risk assessment Template for Outdoor Worship

Read about VaccinAid, a campaign launched by Unicef and Crowdfunder, which aims to deliver 2.5 billion vaccines globally and which the Church of England helped to bring about

Monday 22 March, 14.55

New FAQ:

• How can we contribute to vaccination equity campaigns?
• How can I get a lateral flow test?

Tuesday 19 January, 10:11

New FAQ:

• What advice is available for services during Lent, Holy Week, and Easter?

New documents:

• Advice for Services during Lent, Holy Week and Easter

Read a response from the Bishop of London to the Prime Minister's statement outlining new restrictions in England

We will continue to review and update advice documents in light of Government guidance.Monday 



Thursday 14 January, 11:52

Updated documents:

• Risk assessment template for opening church buildings
• Risk assessment Template for Outdoor Worship

Tuesday 12 January, 17:44

Updated documents:

• Conducting public worship
• Individual private prayer
• Holy Communion 
• Baptisms 
• Funerals 
• Ordinations and Consecrations 
• Confirmation services 
• Outdoor worship and churchyards
• Opening cathedral and church buildings to the public
• Pastoral support in the community including care homes
• Receiving Holy Communion by simultaneous administration
• Access to church buildings for construction or professional contractors
• Personal risk factors to clergy, church workers and volunteers

Updated/New FAQ:

• Is singing permitted? (in Prayer and worship) - further update in light of amended Government Guidance. 

Monday 11 January, 14.50

Updated/New FAQ:

• Is singing permitted? (in Prayer and worship) - further update in light of amended Government Guidance. 

Monday 11 January, 13.45

The Government has today updated its guidance for places of worship

Updated/New FAQ:

• Is singing permitted? (in Prayer and worship)
• Should I work if I’m clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV)? (in Safety, safeguarding & wellbeing)

Friday 8 January at 11:49

Updated documents:

• Permitted activities during lockdown

Updated/New FAQ:

• Can we host children's group? in Community support section
• Can weddings go ahead? 

We have streamlined the advice on this page, and will continue to review advice documents in light of Government guidance.

Monday 4 January at 21:25

Read a response from the Bishop of London to the Prime Minister's statement outlining new restrictions in England. 

The advice on this page will be reviewed in the coming days in line with Government guidance. 

Wednesday 30 December at 15:47

The Government has announced a formal tiering review, whereby more areas have been elevated to tiers 4 and 3. The guidance for places of worship within tiers has not changed at this time, and public worship may continue in all tiers, in line with the Government guidance and the advice below.  

We are also conscious of those who will not wish to attend a church building in light of increased numbers of cases, as well as churches who for different reasons cannot currently safely accommodate public worship.

Many churches continue to offer local streamed worship, together with national online weekly worship and daily audio prayer services via the Time to Pray app and podcast, and the Daily Hope telephone line for any who are unable to access the internet. 

See church online for more details.

Tuesday 22 December at 16:59

Read updated Government guidance:

• COVID-19: guidance for the safe use of places of worship
• COVID-19: Guidance for small marriages and civil partnerships

Updated FAQs:

• Can carol singing or carol services take place this Christmas? in the Singing, Carol Services & key Christmas considerations section
• What is permitted in my tier? in the Singing, Carol Services & key Christmas considerations section
• Who can attend church as part of a Christmas bubble (25 December) in the Singing, Carol Services & key Christmas considerations section
• Can weddings and funerals go ahead? in the Life Events section

Monday 21 December at 16:02

Updated documents:

• Permitted Activities under the Tier System

Thursday 17 December at 16:36

Updated documents: 

• Opening cathedral and church buildings to the public
• Permitted Activities under the 3 Tier System
• Mission and Ministry with Children, Young People & Families

Wednesday 09 December at 17:54

Updated Documents:

• Holy Communion
• Opening cathedral and church buildings to the public

Tuesday 08 December at 14:13

Following the publication of the Government's guidance for Places of Worship, we are updating all our documentation to ensure it is in line with current guidance. The following updates have recently been made. The top box in each document details any changes:

New Documents:

• Vaccines update
• Churches as vaccination centres

Updated Documents:

• Church Heating
• Opening church buildings for works to the building and interior
• Permissions for temporary works in churches and cathedrals
• Holy Communion
• Ordinations and Consecrations
• Legal questions on conducting public worship
• Personal risk factors to clergy, church workers and volunteers
• Permitted Activities under the 3 Tier System
• Test and Trace
• Live streaming Worship
• Individual private prayer
• Face coverings
• Funerals
• Confirmation services
• Weddings
• Baptisms
• Pastoral support in the community including care homes

Wednesday 02 December at 18:45

Following the publication of the Government's guidance for Places of Worship, the following updates have been made:

New/updated Q&A

• Can carol singing or carol services take place this Christmas?
• What is permitted in my tier?
• Who can attend church as part of a Christmas Bubble?
• Can churches hold services of worship?
• What guidance is available for Holy Communion?
• Can weddings and funerals go ahead?
   

New Documents:

• Christmas bubbles
• Risk assessment Template for Outdoor Worship
• Receiving Holy Communion by simultaneous administration

Updated Documents:

• Conducting public worship
• Keeping church buildings clean
• Outdoor worship and churchyards
• Risk assessment template for opening church buildings
• Permitted Activities under the 3 Tier System

Sunday 29 November

New FAQs added following the publication of Government guidance:

• Can carol singing or carol services take place this Christmas? 
• Are nativity plays possible in church?

Thursday 12 November at 16:29

New FAQs:

• Can I still undertake pastoral visiting under the new restrictions? in the Community support section

Friday 06 November at 17:38

New Documents:

• New Lockdown Guidance
• Live streaming Worship

Updated Documents:

• Risk assessment template for opening church buildings

Updated FAQs:

• Is there guidance on live streaming from church buildings? in the Prayer and worship section

13:05

New FAQs:

• What youth and children’s activities can take place during the new national lockdown? in the Schools, nurseries and youth provision section

Updated FAQs:

• Can we still hold a Remembrance Sunday service? in the Prayer and worship section

Thursday 05 November at 14:34

Updated FAQs:

• Can the building still be used for a night shelter? in the Community Support section

Tuesday 03 November at 14:12

Updated FAQs:

• Can we still hold a remembrance Sunday service? in the Prayer and worship section

Monday 19 October at 14:21

Updated Documents:

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Advice on Ordinations and Consecrations
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Advice on Conducting Public Worship
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Advice on Conducting Funerals
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Advice for the Conduct of a Confirmation Service
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Advice for Clergy Conducting Baptisms

Friday 16 October at 16:40

Since Wednesday 14 October, a new three-tier risk alert system for COVID-19 has been in place in England. View our at-a-glance guide to the restrictions for churches. We will study Government detailed Government guidance when it is available and amend our advice as necessary.

New FAQs:

• Who can attend a wedding? in the Life events section
• What should I do if a member of my congregation tests positive for COVID-19? in the General section

Updated Documents:

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Advice on Conducting Weddings

Thursday 15 October at 15:40

Updated FAQs:

• Can we still hold a Remembrance Sunday service? in the Prayer and worship section

Updated documents:

• COVID-19 Advice for clergy conducting weddings

Monday 12 October at 10:37

Updated FAQs:

• Advice on NHS Test and Trace in the What to do in the even of a local outbreak section
• What are the first steps in the event of a local outbreak? in the What to do in the even of a local outbreak section

Friday 2 October at 11:07

New FAQs:

• Can we turn our heating on? in the Fabric and building maintenance section

Updated Documents:

• Outdoor Worship and Churchyards
• Mission and ministry with children and young people

New Documents:

• Church Heating

Friday 25 September at 16:00

New FAQs:

• Can we still hold a Remembrance Sunday service? in the Prayer and worship section
• Can confirmations still go ahead? in the Life events section

Updated FAQs:

• Can funerals still go ahead? in the Life events section 
• Can weddings still go ahead? in the Life events section 
• Can baptisms still go ahead? in the Life events section
• Can ordinations still go ahead? in the Life events section

Updated Documents:

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Advice on Ordinations and Consecrations
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Advice on the Conduct of Public Worship
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Advice on Conducting Funerals
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Advice for the conduct of a Confirmation service
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Opening cathedral and church buildings to the public advice
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Advice on Conducting Weddings
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Advice on Conducting Baptisms

Thursday 24 September at 15:50

New FAQs:

• What guidance is there for Fresh Expressions? under Prayer and worship section
• If a life cycle event does not traditionally happen during communal worship does that mean it is limited to 6 people attending? under Life events section
• How can parishes plan ahead? under General section

New Documents:

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Advice on Fresh Expressions of Church
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Advice on Parish Continuity Plans

Updated FAQs:

• Can ordinations still go ahead? under Life events section

Wednesday 23 September at 13:30

Updated FAQs:

• Can baptisms still go ahead? in the Life Events section
• Can ordinations still go ahead? in the Life Events section
• Advice on NHS Test & Trace in the General section (previously Is there advice on how to collect NHS Test and Trace data?)

Updated documents:

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) NHS Test and Trace

Updated Tuesday September 22 at 14.25

Following the announcement by the Prime Minister of new measures to limit the spread of coronavirus, the Church of England is continuing to engage with Government departments to review advice to churches. 

The Prime Minister emphasised that we can draw comfort from the fact that places of worship as well as schools and businesses are staying open.

We note the change from a maximum of 30 attending weddings to a maximum of 15 from Monday September 28 and will study any detailed documents when they are available and amend advice to churches accordingly.

We anticipate further updates in the next few days with further additions to the FAQs and we also continue to review the downloadable guidance papers which will be updated accordingly. All updates will be notified at the top of this page.

Friday September 18 at 16:45

Updated Document:

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Advice on the Conduct of Public Worship

Updated FAQ:

• How does the 'rule of six' apply to choirs? in the Prayer and worship section (previously Can a choir sing during worship if there are more than six members? and Can a choir rehearse?)

Thursday September 17 at 14:40

New FAQs:

• How does the new ‘rule of six’ affect regular church services? in The rule of six section
• Are places of worship exempt from the ‘rule of six’? in The rule of six section
• Can Bible study groups or home groups now meet in person? in Prayer and worship section
• Can a choir sing during worship if there are more than six members? in Prayer and worship section
• Can a choir rehearse? in Prayer and worship section

Updated FAQs:

• Can churches open for individual prayer? in Prayer and worship section
• Can churches hold services of worship? in Prayer and worship section
• Can we have worship outside? in Prayer and worship section
• Can funerals still go ahead? in Life events section
• Can weddings still go ahead? in Life events section
• Can baptisms still go ahead? in Life events section
• Can ordinations still go ahead? in Life events section

Thursday 03 September at 12:05

• Updated FAQ Should we still deliver printed communication? in General section

Tuesday 25 August at 9:10

• Updated FAQ Can church bells be rung? in Prayer and worship section

Thursday 20 August at 9:20

• Updated Conducting public worship document
• Updated FAQ Can a choir sing during worship? in Prayer and worship section

Tuesday 18 August at 12:57

• Updated Conducting public worship document

Monday 17 August at 14:32

• Updated Baptisms document
• Updated Weddings document
• Updated Funerals document
• Updated Holy Communion document
• Updated Confirmation services document
• Updated Ordinations and Consecrations document
• Updated Pastoral support in the community including care homes document
• New FAQ Can a choir sing during worship? in Prayer and worship section

Friday 14 August at 14:00

• Updated FAQ Can we have worship outside? in Prayer and Worship section

Wednesday 12 August at 15:49:

• Updated FAQ Can a visor be worn in a place of worship? in Prayer and Worship section
• Updated FAQ Is there advice on how to collect NHS Test and Trace data? in General section
• New FAQ Can churches, halls and other buildings hold non-worship events? in General section

Monday 10 August at 15:59:

The following advice documents have now been published in finalised form. This advice had previously been issued as draft, pending confirmation of government guidance. This has now been published. Documents will continue to be updated to reflect future developments.

• Updated Face coverings document
• Updated Baptisms document
• Updated Weddings document
• Updated Funerals document
• Updated Holy Communion document
• Updated Confirmation services document
• Updated Ordinations and Consecrations document
• Updated Conducting public worship document
• Updated Individual private prayer document
• Updated Opening cathedral and church buildings to the public document

Friday 7 August at 10:21

• Updated Face coverings document 
• Updated Baptisms document
• Updated Weddings document
• Updated Funerals document
• Updated Holy Communion document
• Updated Confirmation services document
• Updated Ordinations and Consecrations document
• Updated Conducting public worship document
• Updated Individual private prayer document
• Updated Opening cathedral and church buildings to the public document
• Updated Test and Trace document
• Updated Risk assessment template for reopening church buildings document

Wednesday 5 August at 17:38

• Updated FAQ Who needs to wear a face covering during services? in Prayer and Worship section
• Updated FAQ Who needs to wear a face covering during weddings? in Life Events section

Friday 31 July at 15:35

• Updated FAQ What guidance is in place for clergy, church workers and volunteers who are deemed to be at additional risk? in General section
• Updated Document Personal Risk Factors for Clergy, Church Workers and Volunteers

Friday 31 July at 11:04

• New FAQ What are the first steps to take if we believe there has been a local outbreak? in General section

Monday 27 July at 12:15

• New FAQ Should we wear a visor for presiding and preaching? in Prayer and worship section
• New FAQ What can we do about our annual parish meetings? in Finance and governance section

Thursday 23 July at 15:18

• Updated Outdoor worship and churchyards document (19:32)
• New Face coverings document 
• New Safer Churches – Helping public places to reopen safely document
• Updated Baptisms document
• Updated Weddings document
• Updated Funerals document
• Updated Holy Communion document
• Updated Confirmation services document
• Updated Ordinations and Consecrations document
• Updated Conducting public worship document
• Updated Individual private prayer document
• Updated Opening cathedral and church buildings to the public document
• Updated Mission and ministry with children and young people document
• Updated Test and Trace document
• New Holy Communion and the distribution of the elements document

Relevant FAQs have been added and updated to reflect these documents

Thursday 16 July at 10:40

• New FAQ Is there any guidance on pastoral encounters for welcome teams at churches and cathedrals? in General section
• New FAQ What resources are there to help with resuming children, young people and families work? in Schools, nurseries and youth provision section
• New Pastoral encounters document
• New Mission and ministry with children and young people document

Tuesday 14 July at 12:18

• New FAQ What is the guidance on face coverings? in Prayer and worship section

Monday 13 July at 16:03

• New FAQ Is there advice on how to collect NHS Test and Trace data? in General section
• New FAQ What advice is there for activities in church halls? in General section
• New Test and Trace document
• New Test and Trace consent form template document
• New Test and Trace online privacy notice template document
• New Test and Trace privacy notice template document

Friday 10 July at 16:50

• Updated Conducting public worship document

Thursday 9 July at 10:34

• Updated FAQ Can ordinations still go ahead? in Life events section
• Updated ordinations and consecrations document
• Updated Individual private prayer document

Tuesday 7 July at 15:04

• New FAQ Can children and young people’s activities start again? in School, nurseries and youth provision section
• Updated FAQ Can churches hold services of worship? in Prayer and Worship section
• Updated Conducting public worship document

Thursday 2 July at 16:02

• New FAQ Can we have worship outside? in Prayer and worship section
• Updated Churchyards document

Wednesday 1 July at 16:47

• Weddings
• Funerals
• Baptisms
• Holy Communion
• Confirmations
• Individual Private Prayer

Tuesday 30 June at 20:53

• New advice on the conduct of public worship added following the publication of Government guidance, with updated risk assessment, legal considerations and advice on opening church buildings to the public.
• Read a press release from the House of Bishops following the announcement from the Prime Minister that public worship in church buildings can resume from July 4^th.

Tuesday 30 June at 9:00

• Following the publication of Government guidance, we are updating our advice, and will publish this shortly.

Thursday 25 June at 17:58

• Following the Prime Minister's statement on 23 June, we are awaiting publication of the detail of the Government's guidance before updating our advice. 

Wednesday 17 June at 09:00

• Updated FAQ Can construction work be carried out? in Fabric and building maintenance section
• Updated Keeping church buildings clean document
• New Risk assessment template for contractors and construction workers document

Tuesday 16 June at 14:30

• New FAQ What guidance is in place for clergy, church workers and volunteers who are deemed to be at additional risk? in Prayer and worship section and advice document
• Updated FAQ What guidance is available for Holy Communion? in Prayer and worship section

Monday 15 June at 10:45:

• New Q&A on individual prayer by members of the public in church buildings document

Friday 12 June at 17:15:

• Updated Risk assessment document for opening church buildings
• New Using church buildings for individual prayer and funerals document (combines previous Access to church buildings during lockdown: advice for incumbents and Access to church buildings during lockdown: general advice for incumbents, churchwardens and PCC members into a single guidance document)
• New FAQ Can organists enter church buildings for organ practice and maintenance? in Prayer and worship section

Wednesday 10 June at 11:30

• New FAQ Can clergy, staff and volunteers enter church buildings to prepare for re-opening? in Fabric and building maintenance section
• New FAQ Do we need to get permission to put social distancing or hygiene measures into a church building? in Fabric and building maintenance section

Tuesday 9 June at 16:15.

Read the House of Bishops' statement accompanying the below updates:

• Updated risk assessment document for opening church buildings
• New opening church buildings for works to the building and interior during document (combines previous Access to church buildings for building maintenance and Church and cathedral building access for construction work into a single guidance document)
• New permissions for temporary works in churches and cathedrals document
• New FAQ Can ordinations still go ahead? and advice document
• New FAQ What guidance is available for Holy Communion? and advice document
• Updated FAQ Can funerals still go ahead? and advice document
• Updated FAQ Can churches open for individual and private prayer?

Friday 5 June at 10:45:

• New Prayer and worship FAQ section
  • New FAQ What liturgical resources are available? and accompanying documents
  • New FAQ Can churches open for individual and private prayer? and accompanying document
• New FAQ How can parishes prepare to re-open buildings? and updated risk assessment in Word format
• Updated FAQ Can Weddings still go ahead? and accompanying document
• Updated FAQ Can Funerals still go ahead? and accompanying document
• Updated FAQ Can Baptisms still go ahead? and accompanying document

Monday 1 June at 13:00:

• Updated FAQs on schools and nurseries to include information about reopening of nurseries in church buildings and other church-owned property.

Thursday 28 May at 15:35:

• New Schools and nurseries section including:
  • New FAQ Can members of clergy and foundation school governors enter a school building?
  • New FAQ When schools re-open can church buildings be used by schools as a place of worship or gathering?
• Updated Should we still deliver printed communication? FAQ

Wednesday 27 May at 10:40:

• New FAQ and guidance on What guidance is there for pastoral support in the community, including care homes
• Updated Fabric and building maintenance section including:
  • Access to church buildings during lockdown guidance checklist
  • Parish risk assessment template
  • New FAQ and guidance on What advice is there for access to buildings during lockdown?
  • New FAQ and guidance on What advice is there for keeping the church clean?