- St Peter's Church,
- High Street,
- Roydon, Harlow
- Essex
- CM19 5LW
Resumption of Public Worship at St Peter’s
In light of the latest guidance from Chelmsford Diocese and the local Public Health Directors and following a risk assessment of our church, the PCC has decided that St Peter’s can safely reopen for public worship.
We completely understand that not everyone will feel comfortable about attending church just yet and the Morning Service will continue to be livestreamed on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRoopGOxuqAS_l1Zkx87H5Q.
It will also be possible to join the Evening Service by phone if you prefer (contact Jess for details).
If you do feel ready to join us you will find that the church looks and feels more or less the same as it did through the second half of last year. However, we have made some changes to the layout and to the way we move about the church to help keep us all safe:
- Entry to the church will be through the lobby as usual, but we will direct you to leave either by this door or through the Colte Chapel.
- We have removed some of the chairs from the main body of the church to allow more space for people to walk through the Nave.
- We are introducing two additional “Communion Stations” to the left hand side of the altar. If you are sitting on the left hand side of the church, please go to the left to receive communion. If you are sitting on the right hand side – yes, you’ve worked it out. This will save people from having to pass too closely to others.
- We will be opening some of the windows in the church and in the halls to make sure that all parts of the building are well ventilated. Please wrap up warmly!
- For the time being, we have removed the votive candle stand from church. We know how important this is to many of you, but we hope you will understand that this could become something of a pinch point. Instead of lighting individual candles, there will be one large candle to the left of the altar, which will be lit during the course of the service as we offer up our private prayers for our loved ones and the community. This candle was given to St Peter’s at Christmas by Priti and Priyanka Vasani.
- For the time being, the Evening Service will take place in the main body of the church.
We also need you to play your part in keeping everyone safe. We know that you are all longing to chat to your friends, but we all appreciate the risks of mingling. So:
- Please wear a mask (covering your mouth and nose) whilst you are in the church (including the lobby and toilets).
- Please sanitise your hands when you arrive, before taking communion and when you leave. Extra hand sanitisers will be available.
- Please go straight to a seat when you arrive and listen to the lovely organ music.
- During communion, please wait until one of the Communion Stations is free, before leaving your seat and going to the altar. This should be easier to manage with the additional stations. Don’t worry if this means that the distribution takes a little longer – we would rather have some pauses than a queue.
- At the end of the service, please stay in your seat until you are invited to leave by the churchwardens. Then please leave promptly!
- Please don’t gather just outside the church to chat, but spread out into the car park and churchyard. Please remember that we are still not permitted to meet in groups, even outdoors.
- Please remember that other people may feel more nervous than you do, so please respect everyone’s space.
If you have any concerns or suggestions, please do get in touch.
St Peter’s also continues to be open every day for individual prayer between 10 am and 3.30 pm
Love and blessings,
Richard, Helen and Jess
SUNDAYS
Sunday mornings 9.00 am
Holy Communion A choral service - First, second and third Sundays of the month
Fourth Sunday Service A short, relaxed, service with a live band - Fourth Sunday of the month
Mission Service Each service has a different theme. Previous themes have been: Fair Trade, Modern Slavery, Operation Christmas Child, and Streets2Homes - Fifth Sunday of the month
Sunday evenings 5.00 pm
Evening Prayer (Book of Common Prayer) First, Second, Third and Fifth Sundays of the month
Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer) Fourth Sunday of the month
Holy Communion A choral service - First, second and third Sundays of the month
Fourth Sunday Service A short, relaxed, service with a live band - Fourth Sunday of the month
Mission Service Each service has a different theme. Previous themes have been: Fair Trade, Modern Slavery, Operation Christmas Child, and Streets2Homes - Fifth Sunday of the month
Sunday evenings 5.00 pm
Evening Prayer (Book of Common Prayer) First, Second, Third and Fifth Sundays of the month
Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer) Fourth Sunday of the month
WEEKDAYS
Monday mornings
9.30 am Morning Prayer (Using Common Worship) - An informal morning service.
Tuesday mornings
9.30 am Morning Prayer (Using Common Worship) - An informal morning service.
Wednesday mornings
8.30 am Iona Prayers - A quiet, contemplative prayer service.
See the 'Events' page above for information on special services that are coming up.
WEEKDAYS
Monday mornings
9.30 am Morning Prayer (Using Common Worship) - An informal morning service.
Tuesday mornings
9.30 am Morning Prayer (Using Common Worship) - An informal morning service.
Wednesday mornings
8.30 am Iona Prayers - A quiet, contemplative prayer service.
See the 'Events' page above for information on special services that are coming up.