Berrington Village Pump Edition 149 August-September 2020

X Berrington with Betton Strange X Church Preen X Cound X Cressage X Easthope X Harley X
The Wenlock Team of Parishes
X Hughley X Kenley X Sheinton X Shipton X Stanton Long X Much Wenlock with Bourton X
JULY 2020
We are delighted to announce that, in line with latest Government policy, we will be able to welcome congregations
to public worship in Holy Trinity Much Wenlock from Sunday 9 th August.
Following directives from the Government and The Church of England and in common with all places of worship,
the Team suspended all public worship over three months ago.
Since that time there have been no public services in any of our Parish Churches, and the daily pattern of
worship has been maintained by individual members of the Wenlock Team from their homes and on occasion
in church privately. However, following the Prime Minister’s announcements in June allowing Churches to
reopen for Private Prayer, followed by Public Worship in July, all our churches during this period have been
open partially or fully for Private Prayer.
Initially only two worship centres will be open. Namely Much Wenlock from Sunday 9 th August and Cound
from Sunday 16 th August. In order to keep everyone as safe as we can, this will be rather different from our
normal pattern of worship before lockdown. The service will be said, rather than sung, with a short sermon,
and communion will be in one kind (i.e. bread only).
There will be organ music during some of our services, but unfortunately, current guidance does not allow
congregational or choral singing.
If the situation continues to improve, we hope to be able to offer more services across the Team as we move
further into the Autumn. However, we are also committed to keeping online worship in place for those who
need it.
‘Please do not put yourself at risk by coming to either churches if it is safer for you to stay at home,’ says
Church of England Guidance.
Although we are putting as many measures as we can in place to make it as safe as possible, we cannot eliminate
all risks. We hope that those who cannot come safely to Much Wenlock or Cound will continue to join
our online worship and Zoom chats.
Churchwardens and Sides Persons will be on hand to guide worshippers through these changes and make
things as easy as possible. People are asked to be patient as they may have to queue to enter Church on occasions
and are directed to colour coded pew- Red or Green.
Please bear with us as services resume and we find our way.
What Church looks like has changed a great deal over the last few months, and whilst we are incredibly excited
to be able to welcome people physically into the building, this is just one step on the journey back to normality.
Things will continue to change over the next few weeks and months, as guidance is revised and as we discover
more of what the new normal means for us. We will keep you updated with any changes and hope you will
be understanding as we adapt to a new rhythm of worship.
With my prayerful good wishes.
Matthew Stafford (Revd), TEAM RECTOR-WENLOCK
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