Churches – open and more open

I've never agreed that all churches should have been locked closed during this dreadful COVID epidemic. At a time when many people have felt greatly stressed, it's seemed to me the height of folly – once they were allowed out of their houses – to deny them purpose-built spaces for solace, reflection and prayer.

Thankfully, the government eventually handed back the responsibility of church buildings to their proper authorities, who sensibly deemed that it was safe and right to reopen some of them.

COVID-19 has its desperately serious side but it's also given us sights that we would never have expected to see in a dozen lifetimes, and I hope never to see again.  In the mean time, though, I've been recording some of them on my camera... especially the churches.

So, on this day when some churches reopen for worship, here's a brief photographic record of a few in rural Gloucestershire and Herefordshire, with their warning notices, and cordoned-off pews and sanctuaries.

In the first week that the regulations were relaxed, I chanced upon Framiload Church, open and spotlessly clean.  The church folk had clearly put a lot of thought into creating a welcoming space and I felt compelled to sit quietly and give thanks.

Foy Church was more cautious about it's welcome. Moreover, should one desire to pray, it would have to be whilst standing or kneeling, for every pew was cordoned off and there were no chairs. O well – at least it was open, and for that I was thankful.

Kings Caple is in the same group of churches as Foy. Again, all the pews had been cordoned off, rather giving the appearance that it had been prepared for a wedding. This time, though, two chairs had been set out for contemplative visitors.

What a splendid pulpit. And what a pity that I couldn't try it out!

Finally, on my wanderings between Foy and Kings Caple, I found myself outside Fawley Chapel. Amazingly, not only was the door unlocked, but inside there wasn't a trace of COVID restrictions.

Though Fawley Chapel is lovingly cared for, it is hardly overused. Their last service was on 29th December 2019 and the next should have been on 29th March. I rather like the Next Service notice, left on display as if the whole building has been frozen in time. They appear to have just four services a year, so hopefully the place will burst into life once more at the end of September.