The Prime Minister has confirmed that churches in England will still be permitted to meet to worship, under new restrictions announced today.
The Government said earlier today that from Monday, social gatherings would be limited to six people, prompting fears churches could be forced to close again, just two months after they were permitted to reopen.
However, Boris Johnson has now confirmed that this will not be the case, although social gatherings within churches of more than six people must not take place.
Free to worship
In his press conference this afternoon, the Prime Minister said: “COVID-secure venues like places of worship, gyms, restaurants, hospitality venues can still hold more than six in total”.
The new ‘rule of six’ does not affect the total number that a church may hold, but social distancing restrictions remain in place.
The Christian Institute’s Deputy Director Ciarán Kelly welcomed the news, saying: “It is vitally important that churches remain open and that Christians still have the freedom to continue to worship”.