SeptemBer 2021
One of our greatest joys as Christians is being able to meet together to worship God. The Trustees of the church have worked really hard to enable and encourage worship in these Covid-times which has been challenging. The Trustees have listened to what you have been saying and balanced that against Government and denominational guidance, with a desire to develop good, safe practice.
Following the Trustees recent meeting in September, we are about to relax further our practice and protocols for gathering for worship on Sundays in person, and from 19th September, the following changes will be in place:
- The wearing of face coverings whilst attending worship is optional.
- Chairs have also been rearranged to our traditional pattern of rows though the rows are spaced out.
- People will be able to sit where they like and with who they like.
- Communion will be with our little glasses and pieces of bread - the communion elements will have been prepared with a covid protocol and worshippers will be served by deacons wearing masks and gloves.
On the first Sunday of October, we hope we will be able to share refreshments after the service.
In order for this to work, we ask that you do not attend worship if you suspect that you have an infectious disease of any kind. (Services will continue to be streamed live and available on Youtube)
- You are asked to continue to use hand sanitiser or wash your hands on entering the building
- You are asked to respect others' desire for distance. This might mean checking with the person seated, before sitting next to them accepting that some might still want a little space.
- Your presence at Church will be recorded and the list of names held for three weeks as a good practice so that in the event of a positive Covid contact occurring, we might be able to let you know.
- We hope that these changes will encourage more people to join us for worship, in-person. However, if you have been coming to church and as a result of these changes you will stop coming, please speak to me.
Continue to pray for the Leadership of the church that they might be wise in guiding the church through these unprecedented times.
Update July 2021
Covid Road Map
The Trustees met on Thursday and discussed the way forward for in-person worship, seeking sensitivity towards everyone. Our sponsoring denominations have urged caution whilst recognising our autonomy as a congregation.
However, as from tomorrow (25th July 2021), people will be able to sing in church if they choose to do so. People will still need to wear a face mask or visor (unless exempt) whilst inside church and the building will still be ventilated with doors and windows remaining open. Social distancing remains in place though friends may choose to sit together if they are socialising in other settings and people will be free to attend worship without pre-booking. There are still limits on our capacity and people are asked to arrive at church between 10:15 and 10:25 to facilitate seating before the start of the service.
As well as wearing a mask, you will be asked to wash/sanitise your hands before entering the sanctuary. You will also have to agree to your details and contact number to be held on record for three weeks.
Most importantly, we ask that you do not attend worship if you have any symptoms of illness that might be transmissible (i.e. cough or cold) These arrangements will be reviewed frequently and changes made when appropriate and we thank you in advance for your help in keeping each other safe.
Sunday 10th April
Resuming Church Services
We are happy to confirm that Market Street Church will be opening its doors for worship with effect from Sunday 18th April 2021. We will also continue to stream services via the website and YouTube to ensure that everyone who wants to can join us. Places in church are strictly limited and must be pre-booked.
In Person Worship Suspended
Update 31st December
Following the announcement that Cheshire has gone into Tier 4, It has been decided that we will suspend in-person worship with immediate effect and for at least the next three Sundays. (3rd, 10th and 17th Jan 2021)
The Trustees felt that the measures in place to maintain covid-security for in-person worship were robust and acknowledge the freedom given in the Government guidelines to allow "communal worship" to take place in every Covid tier. However, we reached our decision to suspend worship based on the science of rapid increase of cases in Cheshire which has led to the raising of tier status; the unknown risks regarding the new strain of Covid (i.e. would our covid measures be sufficient to prevent transfer); and an embracing of the 'spirit' of Tier 4 guidelines that closes almost every activity or gathering but excludes churches.
We appreciate that this decision will impact on many of you for whom physically being present at a church service in a church building is really important. As such, we are striving to be a community for all. We will continue to broadcast acts of worship and create opportunities for online community both spiritual and social. We are trying to make service recordings available to those unable to watch via the internet, and if you have any ideas or suggestions of how we can grow connections then please do share your thoughts.
The Trustees will continue to monitor the situation closely and will let you have updates as we have them.
Monday 14th September 2020
Resuming Church Services
We are happy to confirm that Market Street Church will be opening its doors for worship with effect from Sunday 20th September. We will also continue to stream services via the website, YouTube and Facebook to ensure that everyone who wants to can join us.
Returning to the church Building
4th July 2020
Subsequent to the government's recent announcement, you will probably have heard that churches can reopen from the 4th of July 2020. You may therefore be wondering whether we will be open for service at Market Street (the building ) on the 5th.
We have been discussing how and when we can reopen for Face to Face services at Market Street, and although we are obviously as keen as everyone else within the church to see our church family, we can only proceed when it is as safe as possible to do so.
We discussed this at some length at Monday's Deacons meeting, and are planning in the first event to risk assess the Church and then to come up with a series of options, which we will then present to the church by email and will then try to move forward with whatever is safe, practical and provides the best access to church services to as many (or ideally all) of the congregation as possible.
In short, there won't be a service in the building on the 5th July, and the streamed service will continue as currently. We will let you know as soon as we can what our options going forward will be, and continue to appreciate your feedback as to how we are doing currently, and what you would like as we move onward.
INitial Statement
Statement 18th March 2020
Market Street Church will be doing all it can to respond pastorally and practically to the Coronavirus epidemic.
The Baptist Union of Great Britain has published 'Advice for Churches which can be accessed here: https://www.baptist.org.uk/Groups/337630/Coronavirus.aspx
The advice, as of 17 March, is that 'Sunday services should not now take place and the move to online meetings, wherever possible, will need to be developed.' We will therefore be suspending Sunday services until further notice, and we would value your prayerful support as we seek to develop a context where we can be a meaningful faith community whilst physically isolated from each other.
We ask everyone to remember before God those who are vulnerable and lonely, and those who are facing financial hardship as a result of this evolving situation. If you are aware of anyone in crisis or particular need, please contact our Minister Garry Wareham using the contact details on the website.
Further updates will appear on this page as the situation evolves.
