Updated guidance 31 July 

The Prime Minister has outlined plans to make face coverings mandatory in Places of Worship from 8th August and has withdrawn guidance to permit indoor professional performances with immediate effect. The Church of England will study the detailed government regulations and guidance once they are available and its guidance will be updated accordingly.

In the meantime, we continue to strongly advise that face coverings should be worn by all those attending a place of worship, including ministers, worshippers, staff, volunteers, contractors and visitors, where there may be other people present; remembering that they are mainly intended to protect other people, not the wearer, from coronavirus (COVID-19) and that they are not a replacement for physical distancing and regular hand washing.

31 July 2020: The Church of England has updated its guidance to include:

• Updated FAQ What guidance is in place for clergy, church workers and volunteers who are deemed to be at additional risk? in General section
• Updated Document Personal Risk Factors for Clergy, Church Workers and Volunteers
• New FAQ What are the first steps to take if we believe there has been a local breakout? in General section

 Please visit the Church of England Coronavirus pages for the latest information.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1

This page features updates from the Church of England and our bishops for churches and church-run groups in relation to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

The other pages in the section are:

• Opening our churches – links to guidance on reopening for worship from the Church of England

• Prayers and resources – for ministry guidance and inspiration

• Practical matters – concerned with parish finance and administration

• Caring for and securing our church buildings

• Communications resources, including advice on live streaming and zoom

• For schools, children and young people

• Wellbeing and mental health

• On-line training and development – find out what opportunities are available

Throughout these changing times we are sending out a weekly, short Connect e-bulletin to keep people up to date with the latest guidance and resources. Sign up to receive it on our Newsletters page. You can also find all the latest news items related to the Coronavirus in a dedicated Coronavirus Guidance and Updates news section.