All Anglican churches across East Sussex asked to voluntarily end public worship

Bishop Will Hazlewood made the announcement after being approached by the Head of Environmental Health for Rother and Wealden districts, Richard Parker-Harding. Mr Parker-Harding consulted the Director of Public Health and East Sussex County Council after advice from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Bishop Will said, “All parishes across East Sussex have been asked to voluntarily suspend attendance at public worship. Though individually, without a congregation, the clergy can still conduct and stream services inside their churches until Covid cases decline across all East Sussex districts.”

The request came from the Director of Public Health and East Sussex County Council despite efforts to make churches Covid-secure, Bishop Will said.

Churches can remain open for individual prayer and funerals can still take place.

Bishop Will said, “Current government advice allows for public worship to continue but both the national church and the diocese have stressed that decisions about this need to be taken with local circumstances in mind as rates Covid infection rates fluctuate from area to area.”

Churchwarden at St Thomas a Becket church in Lewes Trevor Butler, said, “I know many who visit our ancient and historic sanctuary for peace and healing will be devastated. Every day we welcome dozens of people and have seen a noticeable upturn in visitor numbers during these dark days of coronavirus.”

Bishop Will said, “The situation is being constantly monitored both locally and diocesan-wide.”

*The is an updated version of this piece due to a change in the official press release from Bishop Will*