Reopening of St Cuthbert’s Church

St Cuthbert’s Church will be open for private prayer this week on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, from 5.00-6.00pm each day. Everyone is welcome to visit the church for private prayer, but you must follow the instructions of the stewards who are on duty, and comply with the requirements of social distancing, in order to keep everyone safe.

Mass will be celebrated at St Cuthbert’s on Sunday 9th August at 10.00am. The capacity of the church is limited to 36 people under the diocesan Risk Assessment. If you wish to attend Mass, you must request a place, by emailing office@stcuthberts-durham.org.uk or telephoning 0191 384 3442. You will be asked to give a contact telephone number. If you come to church without having booked a place at Mass, you may be asked to leave. 

Please do not come to church if you are in the ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ group, if you are showing any of the symptoms of Covid-19, or if you have any concerns about your safety. The obligation to attend Sunday Mass has been dispensed by the Bishops until further notice.

Volunteers are needed to clean the church after each opening. If you can help this week, please get in touch by telephone or email, as above. Volunteers are also needed to act as stewards. Please note the  following, from the Diocesan Handbook for the Reopening of Churches: 

‘Stewards and cleaners must not be drawn from the clinically extremely vulnerable group who are shielding. Those in the clinically vulnerable group, including people aged 70 or over, could be at a higher risk of severe illness from coronavirus. The clinically vulnerable group are advised to stay at home as much as possible and, if they do go out, take particular care to minimise contact with others outside their household or support bubble. Those from this group who still wish to volunteer will be asked to confirm that they have read and understood the Diocesan Handbook for Re- Opening of Churches and HM Government Guidance on Staying alert and safe (social distancing.)’ 

If, having considered this information, you wish to volunteer to assist with the reopening of churches, you can do so in any of the churches of our Partnership which are opening. To volunteer, please contact Fr Andrew on parish.priest@stcuthberts-durham.org.uk or 0191 384 3442.

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