Call to keep churches open

The Archbishop of Wales is urging churches to say open for the community while services are suspended.

In a video message, Archbishop John Davies says every effort should be made during these difficult times to keep churches open, even if only for an hour a day, for people to pray in their own time and find spiritual reflection and refreshment.

Public services have been suspended for the foreseeable future due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

The Archbishop says, "This coming Sunday and many days ahead are going to be very difficult for many of us in the Church in Wales because our church services have been suspended for the foreseeable future. This doesn't mean to say that we can't engage in our times of reflection and private prayer, but I want us to think of something that we can offer to the local community because our buildings don't need to be kept locked.

"I want to encourage clergy and others in local parishes to try and ensure that opportunities are created for our buildings to be open. Not necessarily all day but at specific times so that people from our local communities, whether they are regular church-goers or not, can come in and be peaceful and be still and engage in their own times of spiritual reflection and refreshment.

"We have got so much to offer in our faith we need to be able to share it at a times of difficulty, as well as at times when it is easy to do so. So let me please encourage you to make that effort to make our places of worship open, places of welcome and a places of reflection and refreshment."