Caution over places of worship exemption
‘Where in-person meetings are allowed, many may choose not to open premises for worship.'
Quaker Meetings can choose to open their Meetings during the UK’s third national lockdown, but several faith leaders have expressed unease over the exemption of places of worship.
Paul Parker, recording clerk of Britain Yearly Meeting, emailed all Area Meeting clerks on 5 January, a day after the lockdown was announced. Under the new restrictions, places of worship can remain open over the next six weeks.
Quakers in Britain tweeted: ‘Where in-person meetings are allowed, many may choose not to open premises for worship so as not to encourage people to risk their own and others’ health.’
‘Most meetings have moved online and Quakers continue to worship together and support each other during these challenging times,’ it added.
Several faith leaders have urged caution. The Church of England said some people ‘may feel that it is currently better not to attend in person’ and that clergy who had concerns or were shielding should ‘take particular care and stay at home’. Others expressed more open anxiety. One vicar from north London tweeted: ‘There’s a part of me that wishes we had been closed so as not to be going to bed with what feels like an impossible decision.’
