Coronavirus – Update 2nd April 2021

Our Church buildings will re-open for services on Easter Sunday

Our churches will re-open for services on Easter Sunday.  Unfortunately for now the church buildings must remain closed at all other times.  There will be a service at both Whitwell and Creswell on Easter Sunday (Whitwell at 8.30am and Creswell at 10.30am).  From 11th April 2021 onwards there will be one service each Sunday in the benefice, alternating between Whitwell and Creswell.  This rota is subject to change to accommodate any weddings so please check the services / events section of the website for details of service location. Due to the requirements for social distancing it is currently not possible for services to take place at Elmton or Steetley.

We are also continuing to offer a Compline (Night Prayer) service via Zoom on Friday evenings at 7.30pm.  Please click here for further details.

As a reminder, when attending services, you will need to remain 2 metres apart from people not within your household at all times while in church.  We understand that this will be very difficult, but it is a sign that we love and care for one another and are doing our best to keep each other safe.  Please give people room to enter and leave the church building and move around whilst inside, ensuring the 2 metres distance is maintained.

There will be a ‘one way’ system in place and we ask you follow the directions of the Church Wardens / Sidespersons.  We will need to record your name and a contact number for the government’s Track and Trace service. This information will be held for 3 weeks and then destroyed.

Please do not attend church if you feel unwell, and especially if you have a new cough, a higher temperature than normal or have lost your sense of taste or smell. On entering and leaving the building hand sanitizer will be available and we ask that you use this.

Face coverings are mandatory in places of worship.  This is a legal requirement.  Therefore, please make sure you bring a face covering with you when you attend church.

The doors of our churches will be left open to ventilate the building and so you may wish to consider wearing extra layers to keep warm.

The way we worship together will look and feel quite different to how we are used to worshipping, for example, services will continue to be said, with no hymns or sung responses.  When we share the peace, we will stay in our seats and simply wave or make the sign of the peace with others around us.  There will be no collection plate passed around during the service but a collection plate will be available near the exit.  Please do continue to support your church by giving generously and consider arranging to give or continue to give electronically for your safety and convenience.  During communion services, only the bread will be distributed.  Please observe social distancing when receiving communion and please do not kneel at the altar rail.

Despite the issues we are facing, let us not try not to forget what we gather in unity to do, to worship a loving God and to pray for the needs of the world and each other.

If you have any concerns or questions please contact one of the Churchwardens:

Creswell – Lewis Marriott, 01909 721564 or 07973 823857

Elmton – Bob Glassey, Tel: 01909 720242 or 07502 005108

Whitwell – Wayne Brown, 01909 724108 or Nigel Bradshaw 01909 722675