Our church has to be part of how our city and our country protects itself from the novel coronavirus COVID-19. Yesterday, on 16 March the Government changed tack from delaying the virus outbreak and smoothing demand on the NHS to a more comprehensive containment policy. This includes discouraging public gatherings, encouraging people to work from home, self-isolation for 14 days when a member of that household has a new persistent cough or a high temperature, and in time a voluntary protective isolation of those who are over 70, are pregnant or who have an underlying health problem. 

In line with this policy the Archbishops of Canterbury and York have today published a letter suspending public worship for the time being. They encourage us to think about being Church 'in a different shape' focussing on prayer and community service, rather than on Sunday and seasonal services. You can read their letter here:

https://drive.google.com/file/...

There will therefore be no Sunday or idweek Mass at Christ Church until further notice. We were to welcome the Bishop of Stepney at our service this weekend for a confirmation. This will not now take place.

The advice from the BBC website is probably very familiar to us by now, but it pays to remind ourselves what we can do to keep ourselves safe:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-51711227

We will keep in touch with you via email and telephone. Philip Singh and his group We Support will be in touch with those who are vulnerable to offer help. If you would like a call, please phone Fr. Tom in the first instance on 07753616499. He will then pass your request to We Support.

The church will not close, and will be open from 8am - 6pm each day. Do come and light a candle and say a prayer. Fr. Tom will continue his pattern of Morning and Evening Prayer for the Parish and for the World at 8.30am and 5.30pm, and there will be regular (private) celebration of the Mass We will endeavour to record prayer that is happening in the church, and a weekly sermon. There are live-streamed services in London. For details please see

https://www.london.anglican.org/articles/accessing-christian-services-and-resources-digitally-for-those-who-cant-get-to-church/

Please be assured that the life of the church will continue as much as it can. The Archbishops invite us to explore being a new shape of Church; this is a challenge that the Church last faced when it was forced underground by persecution in the Roman Empire. It grew more confident and resourceful in those times, and there is no reason the Church of today cannot do the same.