Churches prepare to reopen

Sunday 17 May 2020

Guernsey's parish churches, and Alderney's, will be open from Monday morning for private prayer, but communal worship will not resume for some time yet.

Both the Dean of Guernsey and the Catholic Dean were in discussions before the announcement was made on Friday, and decided that with the short notice given the churches listed below would not open until Monday to allow time for them to be prepared.

Collectively, the Guernsey churches said they "warmly welcome the decision by the States of Guernsey Committee for Health and Social Care that churches can be open for individuals to pray privately and find quiet and spiritual comfort in our church buildings".

The Dean of Guernsey, the Very Revd Tim Barker added: "We warmly welcome this recognition by the States of Guernsey that spiritual health is important. A number of churches around the island will be open for people of all faiths and none for prayer and reflection."

Pictured: St Sampson's Parish Church. 

He and Fr Bruce Barnes of the Catholic Church in the Bailiwick have made arrangements for the churches to be cleaned over the weekend, as they have been closed to all but members of the clergy since March. 

The churches will be prepared so that members of the public can use them again for their own private prayers, although in some churches, access will be restricted to defined areas. Anyone visiting a church is asked to observe social distancing and to use hand sanitising products. 

Many of the island's churches are planning to continue offering virtual services shared online.  

Although many will be wanting a full return to church services, it is understood that the Bailiwick is the first part of the British Isles which is allowing churches to be opened for private prayer. 

Pictured: St Anne's Church, Alderney. 

Those planning to be open, between 11:00 and 16:00 from Monday 18 May are:

Castel

1. Ste Marie de Câtel church (Castel parish church), cnr Rue du Presbytere and Rohais de Haut (open by appointment only – contact the churchwardens)
2. St Matthew’s church, Rue de la Lande

Forest

1. Ste Marguerite de la Fôret (Forest parish church), Le Bourg

St Andrew

1. St Andrew’s church, Route de St André                                          

St Peter Port

1. The Town Church, Church Square
2. St John’s church, Les Amballes
3. St Joseph’s Catholic church, Cordier Hill
4. St Stephen’s church

St Sampson

1. St Sampson’s church, Church Road

St Saviour

1. St Saviour’s church, Les Buttes

Torteval

1. St Philippe’s church, Rue du Belle

Alderney

1. St Anne’s church, Victoria Street

Pictured top: The Town Church has been adorned with images by a neighbour during the lockdown.