By Alison Coulter 

Read a selection of stories from churches across the country on how they are serving communities at this challenging time.

Churches are running summer staycations and holiday-at-home experiences for people of all ages unable to holiday due to the coronavirus pandemic.

While our churches are now allowed to open their doors for private prayer, for many it has not been possible or practical to do this – yet many such churches are still a sacred space in their community.

In today’s digital age whilst zoom, social media and online church services are keeping many connected during Coronavirus lockdown – those self-isolating without internet access can be left feeling forgotten.

Daily HOPE, the free 24-hour worship phoneline launched by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby on 26 April, has received more than 170,000 calls, totaling more than two million minutes of listen time.

Since the government announced that public worship in churches could restart after more than three months of lockdown, churches have been taking innovative steps to help keep their congregations as safe as possible:

People are exploring faith during lockdown through Facebook comments and the Church of England’s national services streamed online.

An online Community of Prayer is to be launched after a cathedral saw digital worship numbers soar after Covid-19 restrictions came into force.

During the pandemic, nearly a quarter of a million people have used the Daily Prayer podcast – finding support in a daily cycle of prayer traditionally associated with monastic communities.