Vicars Urged To Stop Streaming Services From Empty Churches

Vicars have been urged to stop live streaming services from their empty churches over the Easter weekend, with the country remaining in lockdown following the Covid-19 outbreak, the Press Association reports. The London College of Bishops said it was making the “painful” request to the clergy ahead of the Easter weekend, one of the most significant times in the Christian calendar. In a statement, the bishops said:

"It feels extremely hard to ask this of you, this week of all weeks.

But you will know that some people believe that being in our churches to stream, even if it is accessed by a door in your home, is encouraging others to want to travel to their church, and for others to ask for churches to be open to the public.

We would not want to be seen to encourage any laxity in the requirement to stay indoors except for designated reasons, because this will save lives, and protect the NHS."