Friends gather outside
Quakers respond to lockdown easing for places of worship
Quakers are preparing to come together again as the lockdown across England eases, with many proceeding with caution. Following the prime minister’s announcement on 23 June that places of worship in England are able to open from 4 July, provided physical distancing rules are observed, Meetings have been considering how best to move forward with Meetings for Worship (MfW).
Bunhill Fields Quakers are among several Meetings who have been holding outdoors MfWs. The ‘blended MfW’ involves a small group of Friends gathering in the Meeting house garden, which is streamed online to others. Outdoor MfWs are seen by many Meetings as the way to transition from Zoom Meetings to onsite gatherings that carry less risk than assembling indoors. Seven Quakers met in the garden of Diss Meeting House on 23 June, according to Helen Kennedy on the Quakers in Britain Facebook page. Meanwhile Airton Meeting was prevented by the strong rain from gathering together in the Meeting house garden on 28 June. They hope to do this next week.
Wilf Fenten, clerk of Airton Meeting, told the Friend: ‘We shall sit in separate groups, each group not exceeding six people, dispersed around the site. If there is more than one group we shall advise everybody sitting in different groups not to mingle, even with regard to social distancing, after MfW. The present regulations may well have changed but we must remember that some of us are over seventy and should therefore be extra careful. We have told Friends that the decision of whether or not to join depends entirely on their individual discernment and I am aware that it will not be right for everybody.’
Several Meetings also told the Friend that the challenges on safe reopening still remain, even with the two-metre social distancing rule reduced to one metre plus.
Chris Holbrook, from Bakewell Meeting, listed some of the logistical challenges Friends have been considering over the past month. ‘We can organise a one-way system in and out, hand sanitisers, a toilet hygiene protocol, Friends bringing flasks for refreshments and providing their own copies of Quaker faith & practice, and charity money paid electronically. Parking will be affected because Friends will not be able to share cars. No hand-shaking so Namaste bows (this means “I recognise the divine in you”). Alongside this, Friends who cannot come will have a Zoom MfW.’
Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) has prepared a nine-step guide to reopening on the Quakers in Britain website, along with a risk assessment document.
