Church leaders' delight as lockdown eases in time for Easter

Helensburgh Parish Church and its linked congregation, Rhu and Shandon, will re-open on Palm Sunday, March 28, after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon gave the go-ahead.

Having celebrated last Easter and Christmas online, minister Rev David T Young, and associate Rev Tina Kemp, are excited about being back in their buildings at what is the most important time of the Christian year.

Mr Young said: “We’re delighted that we will be able to open our doors again for Easter services.

“We have had only four Sunday services in our buildings in the past year, so it will be wonderful to be able to be with our church family again, even though numbers will be limited.

“We won’t be able to sing our favourite Easter hymns but it will be lovely to see some familiar faces, even though they’ll be half covered by masks!”

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Numbers at services in both churches will be restricted to 50 and health and safety measures, including social distancing, compulsory mask wearing and temperature checks, will be in operation.

Seats will require to be booked in advance and details of how to do this will be given nearer the time on the congregations’ Facebook pages, websites and by email.

Mr Young stressed that anyone unable to secure a place at the physical services, or who is unable to attend in person for any reason, will be able to watch a live stream from Helensburgh Parish Church on its dedicated YouTube channel.

While a date has been set for re-opening of all places of worship, this will depend on the number of coronavirus infections continuing to fall.

Ms Sturgeon is set to confirm the opening at her weekly review next Tuesday, March 23.

Mr Young added: “While this is great news for people of all faiths, it’s important we keep sticking to the rules and staying safe.”

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Meanwhile, the Rev Mitchell Bunting, minister at Helensburgh United Reformed Church (URC) added: “A year ago on March 22, I produced my first video service and hopefully, if things go well, I will make the last pre-recorded video service for this coming Sunday as we hope to be able to return to in-person public worship.

“I know from the period between September and December last year, when we were able to hold public worship in the churches where I am minister, that this meant a great deal to worshippers.

“Despite the social distancing and hygiene requirements – and of course no congregational singing – it was good to be able to gather in each other’s company and worship together.”

Mr Bunting, who is now also responsible for the URC congregations in Dumbarton, Clydebank and Drumchapel, says the Helensburgh and Clydebank churches will hold their first in-person services on Palm Sunday, with Drumchapel following on Easter Day.

The Dumbarton church, where the congregation is smaller, will remain closed for the time being.

He added: “Although we can’t sing we can still listen and the plan is to have a string quartet provide music for our Easter Day worship.

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“I will continue to broadcast over Zoom for those unable to attend in person.”

The Rev Dominic Ind, rector at St Michael and All Angels’ Church in Helensburgh, said Holy Week was “by far and away the most important week of the year” for Christian worshippers.

He added: “It was with considerable delight that we heard the First Minister give permission for places of public worship to hold services for up to 50 people, just in time for us at the beginning of Holy Week.”

The St Michael’s congregation will meet in church on Palm Sunday, and there will be worship on Maundy Thursday and a three-hour watch from noon until 3pm on Good Friday.

There will be no Easter vigil at the church on Holy Saturday, and the Eucharist on Easter Sunday is already fully booked.