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Overview: A message from your Coronavirus Task Group

This page contains important advice for parishes in Lancashire in relation to Coronavirus (Covid-19).

This overview section guides you through how to navigate to the the advice you need, please read it carefully so you can engage with the advice as swiftly ans easily as possible.

As of July 19, 2021 the government has eased restrictions across the country but still advises caution at all times. 

This page and our trusty Coronavirus Compendium have been updated to reflect the new situation and so has the rest of the this website too.

All information no longer relevant has been removed and archived. It is still available for anyone who wishes to view it however for any reason.

Any information that remains relevant (such as our excellent advice on good mental and physical health) remains accessible, either on separate pages under the various homepage tabs or on this page or in the compendium itself.

Briefings still continue to be issued although during August there will only be a briefing if absolutely necessary. The very latest briefings are always to be found in the pdf list immediately below.

For the very latest changes our comprehensive 'compendium of information' page is also updated regularly (quick link also in panel at top of page). 

Please make the compendium and the briefings your first port of call for the latest advice at all times. Any doubts just email coronavirus@blackburn.anglican.org

Please also note that in addition to links below to other parts of our website, other links already featured here (such as to the Church of England national website and Government website) are to sites that are reliable sources of information and which are also being updated regularly but please contact the owners of the sites we link to directly if you have a specific question related to them. We can't make alterations to externally provided information. 

Coronavirus Task Group briefings for parishes 

The Task Group to manage our response to Coronavirus is still meeting regularly and the Briefings are sent to all clergy, churchwardens, licensed lay ministers, treasurers, PCC secretaries and Vision Champions via email.

The briefings appeared daily in the early part of the pandemic and continue as and when necessary. 

Below are the very latest briefings that can be downloaded and printed. Advice on certain topics changes regularly so please note this when looking back at previous briefings.

We will always update on the latest advice on any particular subject in the next available briefing and the advice on the rest of the website, including the compendium will also be updated as soon as possible as well. 

Compendium of advice and resources (including latest situation)

A compendium of the advice and resources contained initially in the daily briefings can be found in the Resources section of our website. It includes a 'latest situation summary' which will be updated as often as we can.

  • Last updated on: July 30, 2021

Guidance from The Church of England

All guidance given will continue to reflect appropriate current Public Health advice and is kept under constant review. 

This page on the national Church of England website provides further advice as well as digital resources for worship and prayer. 

Government updates

You are advised to follow daily updates from official government sources including this regularly updated Coronavirus page on gov.uk. Other helpful links to related websites can be found below.

Please note that some media coverage can still be alarmist. Try to ensure your information is coming from consistently reliable media sources such as the BBC.

Meanwhile, on social media, trust only official updates and try to avoid deliberately or accidentally spreading gossip and rumour where possible. See more about social media in the digital section below. 

Digital resources and use of social media

During the Coronavirus crisis there has been a significant expansion of digital resources and advice locally in the Diocese and from The Church of England digital team: including audio, video, online webinars for churches and other relevant materials.

Whatever resources there are available currently, we aim to ensure we overlay this national material with digital resources suitable for our Diocese specifically. 

You can view and engage with all national material on this page of the national website (follow the link at the top of the page) and here on this website. 

Live streaming: search the clickable map  on A Church Near You' and watch livestreams of people from your own parish (or perhaps the nearest parish to you). Here's a handy guide to the basics of livestreaming from the Church of England.

Using social media:

It has been good to watch how social media platforms have been used in new and exciting ways to engage with communities recently.

Social media can also be used for harm and we want to advise against any use of social media which may promote upset, angst or discord at this time. Social media can be good for maintaining connections, but it can also be a terrible source of anxiety, fake news and angst.

Think carefully not just about what you choose to read, but also what you write and put out in the public domain. If the powers and authorities make decisions which you disagree with, you should be able to voice your concern, but please remember to always do it in a way that is factually accurate (remembering that they too are under extreme stress and strain) and above all is loving and kind.

More detailed advice is available here. 

Minimising chances of infection

The Department of Health continues to be relevant at any time, namely:

  • Always carry tissues with you and use them to catch your coughs or sneezes
  • Bin the tissue and to kill the germs, wash your hands with soap and water or use a sanitiser gel
  • Have soap and sanitiser gel available for your parishioners and parish officers
  • Ensure good regular cleaning of surfaces lots of people touch regularly
  • Display this public information poster here 

Communication with parishes 

This page you are now reading on the Diocesan website will continue to be updated as regularly as required and features links to reliable websites which are also being regularly updated.

There are also the regular briefings sent to all parishes (clergy, lay leaders and parish officeholders) from Bishop Philip and the Coronavirus Task Group (see above). 

More information to support and help parishes can be found in the compendium with onward links for further information from there. 

Our Parish Update ebulletin is sent every second Wednesday (except during August) so continue to check that out too. 

Please note if you didn't hear at th time that, sadly, The See magazine which was initially suspended due to the pandemic has now been cancelled permanently for a number of key reasons; many connected with the pandemic itself.

For more information about this news click here. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ronnie Semley; page updated regularly - last on July 30, 2021