Churches during the pandemic: ‘Not one Alleluia, no joining in a prayer’

• I AM writing about the situation with churches and other places of worship.

My only son killed himself on March 9, just before the first lockdown. The only place that could have given me any comfort was the church I go to.

I find it unbelievable that religious meeting places are closed, especially in this virus climate. It can be a lifeline, like it is to me.

It seems crazy – even after it reopened it had become such a quiet, cold, place – now, forbidden to talk to each other, we hear “Move out quickly”, “Don’t touch the statues”… and the actual service excludes even the slightest sense of voice.

Not one “Alleluia”, no joining in a prayer. Even the Creed has been silenced. Everyone is spaced, masked, sanitised. It just doesn’t make sense. I’m sure I’m just adding my voice to many others.

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