Planning is well advanced for our return to church on Sunday 26 July at Kilmore and 2 August at Inch and that we alternate churches thereafter for the rest of the summer.

The reasoning behind this is that the official guidelines indicate that a deep clean of the premises is not required if there is a gap of at least 72 hours between events. Having two churches allows us to alternate safe spaces and provides us with a safe venue option for Weddings, Funerals and Baptisms at other times during the week.

For the sake of standardisation: the time of all Sunday morning services will be 11:00am.

It is our intention to maintain an online presence with recorded Sunday services which will also be available via our telephone ministry.

The safety of congregants and our ministry teams at Kilmore and Inch remain our paramount concern. We must continue to be vigilant and safe.

The current guidelines state:

  1. That anyone showing symptoms of Covid-19 must self-isolate with all the other members of their household.
  2. Anyone who has tested positive for Covid-19 must self-isolate even if they are asymptomatic.
  3. Anyone who has been advised to self-isolate via the contacting service must do so even if they are asymptomatic.
  4. Anyone who has been notified and advised to shield must self-isolate.
  5. Anyone who is in a risk category must be extremely cautious about social interactions.

Social distancing remains 2 meters. This sets a cap on total service attendance – in terms of our Risk Assessment this has been set at 40 for Kilmore and 30 for Inch. Please note, we are not allowed to use the balcony at Inch.

Face masks are recommended but not mandatory and the choice to wear one is left to the individual.

An attendance register for tracing purposes will be kept for all services.

We will also take a Photograph, which will serve as a record as to where people sat for contact tracing purposes. These photographs will be kept for three weeks and then destroyed. They will not be used for any other purpose.

There will be a welcome team to greet and usher. The welcome team will be wearing face shields for your protection. Please follow all instructions and directions given and please try to avoid bottlenecks at entrances and exits. Move away from these as quickly as possible and stand at a safe distance from the church.

There will be no physical contact, hand shaking, hugging, kissing etc.

There will be signs to remind you of social distancing and hand hygiene.

There will be hand sanitizers provided at the doors for your use.

A “one way system” will be in operation and you must wait to be shown to your allocated seat by an usher.

People of the same household may sit together.

There will be a separate entrance and exit – entrance will be via the front door and exit via the back vestry door of our two churches.

At the end of the service you will be ushered pew by pew to the exit.

No bibles, hymn books or prayer books will be used. You are however welcome to bring your own.

There will be no congregational or choir singing.

Toilet(s) facilitieswill beavailable, and the key is with the welcome team. Cleaning materials are provided, but users must sanitise and wipe down all surfaces before and after use.

Communion – there will be communion in one kind only until at least November and you will be served in your seat.

Weddings – Attendance is limited to social distancing guidelines: Kilmore 40 and Inch 30. These figures include absolutely everyone: Bridal Party, family, friends, officiants, photographers, musicians etc. Social distancing and hygiene guidelines must be strictly adhered to.

Funerals – Attendance is limited to social distancing guidelines: Kilmore 40 and Inch 30. These figures include absolutely everyone: family, friends, officiants, musicians etc. Social distancing and hygiene guidelines must be strictly adhered to. Numbers are also currently restricted at the graveside to a maximum of 30 people.

Baptisms – Attendance is limited to social distancing guidelines: Kilmore 40 and Inch 30. These figures include absolutely everyone: family, friends, officiants, photographers, musicians etc. Social distancing and hygiene guidelines must be strictly adhered to.

Mid-week Communion – to be reviewed in/for September.

Sunday School – it is hoped that Sunday School will meet fortnightly, as from the beginning of September. All cleaning, social distancing and hygiene guidelines apply for Sunday School and all other hall users.

Thank you for your patience in reading these guidelines. They are absolutely necessary for the health and wellbeing of everyone and your cooperation will be greatly appreciated. They are also subject to change. We are however just so grateful to be able to return to some kind of normal church life.

Be blessed and stay safe

Rev Stephen Smyth
Rector Kilmore and Inch
20 July 2020.

Categories: Announcements