COVID-19 update
Updated March 14, 2021
Risk Assessment following outbreak of CV19
St Michael’s church, Thorpe-le-Soken
This risk assessment is to be read together with the current advice and guidelines from the Department of Health, information issued by the Church of England at national level and the Diocesan guidelines issued locally.
Face coverings are now mandatory and must be worn. There are certain exemptions – these are covered in the Church of England paper Covid-19 Advice on Face Coverings
The principal services at Saint Michael’s church are the Sunday and Wednesday parish Mass. Number limits for communal worship should be decided on the basis of the capacity of the place of worship, with social distancing guidelines being followed. Given the size of our church, we calculate the number to be around 34 single people, with more allowed if from same households. Guidance regarding occasional services can be found towards the end of this document.
Prior to the services the windows will be open. This will allow a flow of air into the church building.
Entry to the church will be via the north door. The inner doors will be open to try as far as possible to avoid a bottle neck. Members of the congregation will be asked to ensure that they follow social distancing even if this means waiting outside church till the way is clear ahead as the danger of virus transmission is thought to be greatest in such a confined space. A greeter would be on duty to ensure that no congestion is allowed to occur whilst simultaneously requesting members of the congregation to occupy the front seats first and work backwards.
Upon entering the church building Parishioners will be asked to use the hand sanitising liquid provided and will be reminded to do so again when they leave the building. Paper tissues will be provided to eliminate any direct hand contact with the sanitising liquid container. A disposal bin will be provided.
A paper service sheet, intended to be taken away and not reused, is provided at each Sunday service. No-one other than the member of the congregation taking the sheet will have the need to touch the service sheet. The laminated Mass sheets would be cleaned/sanitised after use.
Families/couples who normally share the same household will be able to sit together during the service. Other members of the congregation will have to sit in accordance with social distancing guidelines. There are green stickers on the pews to mark 2 metres distance and people must sit in every other row.
Cash offerings will be collected in a receptacle near the door, rather than passing it around, and will be placed in the safe afterwards and not touched for 72 hours to minimize infection.
Sunday School will be suspended until such time that it is deemed appropriate to restart, but not before September. The children’s corner within the church and read/play area with communal toys and books will be cordoned off and communal books and toys will be stored. Children should be encouraged to bring along their own toys and books. Young children should be supervised by a parent/guardian and appropriate hygiene precautions followed.
Current available information suggests that singing can propel infectious droplets for a greater distance than speaking and, therefore, each service will be a said Mass so there will be no need for hymn books to be used. Organ music is permitted but there will be no choir until further notice.
The celebrant may prepare for each service himself but, if others assist in preparing the elements before or during the service, then hand hygiene and physical distancing precautions should apply. If the Mass is concelebrated then the principal celebrant will administer communion. At the distribution, Holy Communion is administered in silence.
The celebrant will use soap and hot water to wash his hands prior to Mass to the current guidelines of 20 seconds. Guidance on handwashing will be placed at the sink.
The Celebrant will use sanitising liquid before the preparation of the altar at the offertory. The priest will also use sanitising liquid before distributing the hosts.
The congregation must remain in their places for the Peace and should not shake hands with other members of the congregation.
The distribution of communion will take place at the chancel steps. Members of the congregation should queue in line at the required social distance. Only the celebrant will receive communion in both kinds and the congregation will receive communion in only one kind which will placed into the hand. After they have received the host, members of the congregation should return to their seats via the side aisle (past the eagle) ensuring that they maintain the appropriate social distancing. If during administration of communion the priest’s hand touches those of a communicant, then both should immediately use hand sanitiser.
Those members of the congregation who receive communion in their seat should be asked to sit at the end of the row. This will allow the Celebrant to administer communion without having to pass anyone in the row.
If the priest is the only person who will touch the chalice and paten both during the service and after, then they can be cleaned in the normal way. If others may touch the chalice and/or paten, either during the service or after, then they should either be washed in warm water with liquid soap, or if this is not possible, stored safely on their own for at least 72 hours before using again.
At the end of Mass, the congregation should remain in their seats for a short period of private prayer and this will allow time for the people to leave in a prescribed order. The greeter will ensure the doors are open. The West door will also be open as an alternative exit to prevent congestion. Sanitising equipment will also be provided at this exit.
Catering will be suspended until further notice.
The priest will not shake hands with members of the congregation as they depart. Should any member of the congregation wish to speak to the priest at the end of the service, this could be conducted outside and away from other people to provide both social distancing and a degree of confidentiality.
The toilet will be open but should be used only if urgent and worshippers should use the facilities at home before arriving, wherever possible. Liquid soap, paper towels, anti-bacterial wipes, hand gel and a disposal bin are available. The supply of these are monitored to ensure that they are always available. The bin should be emptied after each service. Guidance showing how to wash hands correctly should be placed above the sink. The toilet area will be cleaned after each service, provided it has been used.
The statues of Our Lady remain in place. There will be opportunity to light candles, but only one person at a time unless they are from the same household. The candles will be placed individually on a table and not in a bunch, so only one candle at a time needs to be touched.
Occasional Services (Baptisms, Weddings & Funerals)
The current guidelines for occasional services are that there should be no more than 30 people attending a funeral, indoors or outdoors. Weddings are restricted to 6 people and, until 29th March, can only take place in exceptional circumstances. These numbers do not include those who are assisting in the leading of the service or working at the church. Current guidelines for these services may be found on the government website Gov.Uk. Baptisms may be held during a service and will be subject to the usual requirements for public worship. The guidelines as set out in this document, including social distancing and the use of face coverings, will still apply.
Legionnaires Disease
During lockdown the taps in the church building have been run for approximately five minutes. This will be done again prior to the resumption of services.
This is an attempt to prevent any possible outbreak of Legionnaires Disease which we are advised is possible during times of non-use of the water system.
9th March 2021
Risk Assessment following outbreak of CV19
St Michael’s church, Thorpe-le-Soken
This risk assessment is to be read together with the current advice and guidelines from the Department of Health, information issued by the Church of England at national level and the Diocesan guidelines issued locally.
Face coverings are now mandatory and must be worn. There are certain exemptions – these are covered in the Church of England paper Covid-19 Advice on Face Coverings
The principal services at Saint Michael’s church are the Sunday and Wednesday parish Mass. Number limits for communal worship should be decided on the basis of the capacity of the place of worship, with social distancing guidelines being followed. Given the size of our church, we calculate the number to be around 34 single people, with more allowed if from same households. Guidance regarding occasional services can be found towards the end of this document.
Prior to the services the windows will be open. This will allow a flow of air into the church building.
Entry to the church will be via the north door. The inner doors will be open to try as far as possible to avoid a bottle neck. Members of the congregation will be asked to ensure that they follow social distancing even if this means waiting outside church till the way is clear ahead as the danger of virus transmission is thought to be greatest in such a confined space. A greeter would be on duty to ensure that no congestion is allowed to occur whilst simultaneously requesting members of the congregation to occupy the front seats first and work backwards.
Upon entering the church building Parishioners will be asked to use the hand sanitising liquid provided and will be reminded to do so again when they leave the building. Paper tissues will be provided to eliminate any direct hand contact with the sanitising liquid container. A disposal bin will be provided.
A paper service sheet, intended to be taken away and not reused, is provided at each Sunday service. No-one other than the member of the congregation taking the sheet will have the need to touch the service sheet. The laminated Mass sheets would be cleaned/sanitised after use.
Families/couples who normally share the same household will be able to sit together during the service. Other members of the congregation will have to sit in accordance with social distancing guidelines. There are green stickers on the pews to mark 2 metres distance and people must sit in every other row.
Cash offerings will be collected in a receptacle near the door, rather than passing it around, and will be placed in the safe afterwards and not touched for 72 hours to minimize infection.
Sunday School will be suspended until such time that it is deemed appropriate to restart, but not before September. The children’s corner within the church and read/play area with communal toys and books will be cordoned off and communal books and toys will be stored. Children should be encouraged to bring along their own toys and books. Young children should be supervised by a parent/guardian and appropriate hygiene precautions followed.
Current available information suggests that singing can propel infectious droplets for a greater distance than speaking and, therefore, each service will be a said Mass so there will be no need for hymn books to be used. Organ music is permitted but there will be no choir until further notice.
The celebrant may prepare for each service himself but, if others assist in preparing the elements before or during the service, then hand hygiene and physical distancing precautions should apply. If the Mass is concelebrated then the principal celebrant will administer communion. At the distribution, Holy Communion is administered in silence.
The celebrant will use soap and hot water to wash his hands prior to Mass to the current guidelines of 20 seconds. Guidance on handwashing will be placed at the sink.
The Celebrant will use sanitising liquid before the preparation of the altar at the offertory. The priest will also use sanitising liquid before distributing the hosts.
The congregation must remain in their places for the Peace and should not shake hands with other members of the congregation.
The distribution of communion will take place at the chancel steps. Members of the congregation should queue in line at the required social distance. Only the celebrant will receive communion in both kinds and the congregation will receive communion in only one kind which will placed into the hand. After they have received the host, members of the congregation should return to their seats via the side aisle (past the eagle) ensuring that they maintain the appropriate social distancing. If during administration of communion the priest’s hand touches those of a communicant, then both should immediately use hand sanitiser.
Those members of the congregation who receive communion in their seat should be asked to sit at the end of the row. This will allow the Celebrant to administer communion without having to pass anyone in the row.
If the priest is the only person who will touch the chalice and paten both during the service and after, then they can be cleaned in the normal way. If others may touch the chalice and/or paten, either during the service or after, then they should either be washed in warm water with liquid soap, or if this is not possible, stored safely on their own for at least 72 hours before using again.
At the end of Mass, the congregation should remain in their seats for a short period of private prayer and this will allow time for the people to leave in a prescribed order. The greeter will ensure the doors are open. The West door will also be open as an alternative exit to prevent congestion. Sanitising equipment will also be provided at this exit.
Catering will be suspended until further notice.
The priest will not shake hands with members of the congregation as they depart. Should any member of the congregation wish to speak to the priest at the end of the service, this could be conducted outside and away from other people to provide both social distancing and a degree of confidentiality.
The toilet will be open but should be used only if urgent and worshippers should use the facilities at home before arriving, wherever possible. Liquid soap, paper towels, anti-bacterial wipes, hand gel and a disposal bin are available. The supply of these are monitored to ensure that they are always available. The bin should be emptied after each service. Guidance showing how to wash hands correctly should be placed above the sink. The toilet area will be cleaned after each service, provided it has been used.
The statues of Our Lady remain in place. There will be opportunity to light candles, but only one person at a time unless they are from the same household. The candles will be placed individually on a table and not in a bunch, so only one candle at a time needs to be touched.
Occasional Services (Baptisms, Weddings & Funerals)
The current guidelines for occasional services are that there should be no more than 30 people attending a funeral, indoors or outdoors. Weddings are restricted to 6 people and, until 29th March, can only take place in exceptional circumstances. These numbers do not include those who are assisting in the leading of the service or working at the church. Current guidelines for these services may be found on the government website Gov.Uk. Baptisms may be held during a service and will be subject to the usual requirements for public worship. The guidelines as set out in this document, including social distancing and the use of face coverings, will still apply.
Legionnaires Disease
During lockdown the taps in the church building have been run for approximately five minutes. This will be done again prior to the resumption of services.
This is an attempt to prevent any possible outbreak of Legionnaires Disease which we are advised is possible during times of non-use of the water system.
9th March 2021
