The mood of the people is to get back to church

The mood of the people is to get back to church

24 March 2021

CHURCH leaders in Downpatrick have welcomed the imminent reopening of churches after lockdown.

All churches have been closed to public worship since the New Year, but they will be open again in time for Easter.

Catholic churches will reopen this Friday, while Protestant churches can reopen from Good Friday.

Fr John Murray, parish priest of Downpatrick, said he was “totally behind” the reopening, though he stressed that Covid-19 measures would be in place.

St Patrick’s Church, which normally seats 800 people, will have its capacity reduced to 100 as a result of social distancing measures. The three other churches in the Downpatrick parish — St Colmcille’s, St Brigid’s and St Malachy’s, Ballykilbeg — will remain closed.

“The mood of the people is to get back to church,” Fr Murray said. “The pandemic has been mentally punishing and one of the ways of helping people to cope is to go to mass and meet people.

“Our last public services were on Christmas Day and it’s been difficult for many people, although we have been blessed with a good webcam system and live streaming at St Patrick’s. People have definitely been watching the services and I know it’s a comfort that they have been able to worship in some form.”

He added: “There was a palpable sense of joy when we were reopened following the end of the first lockdown last July. I think it will be the same this Friday.”

The Dean of Down, the Very Rev Henry Hull, said the past three months had been a “strange experience”, but pointed out that the work of the church had continued, even though there was no public worship.

Dean Hull leads a team of clergy responsible for Down Cathedral and 13 Church of Ireland churches in the Lecale area. He said almost all of them would be reopening for Easter.

“Easter is central to the Christian faith. It is a time of resurrection and hope. This year we also look forward to an end to the Covid pandemic and a return to some form of normality,” he remarked.

Dean Hull said that although social distancing measures would be in place he hoped that people would enjoy the experience of going back to church.

The Rev Owen Patterson, minister of Downpatrick and Ardglass Presbyterian Churches, described the reopening as the “start of the road back to normality”.

He said he appreciated that some people might feel nervous about going back to church, though he hoped that the success of the vaccination programme would act as an encouragement.

Mr Patterson said he was looking forward to services in both of his churches on Easter Sunday and pointed out that services would continue to be streamed online.

The Rev Mervyn Ewing, minister of Donard Methodist Church, which covers Downpatrick, Dundrum and Newcastle, said he was looking forward to public worship resuming on Easter Sunday.

“The church is about community and relationships. Those are things which we have missed dreadfully,” he said. “We are looking forward to making contacting with one another physically and not just on a screen.

Mr Ewing said the last three months had been “challenging”, though he emphasised that the church had continued to operate through prayer and pastoral support.

He added: “We really hope that there will be no further lockdowns.”

The Rev Dr David Steers, minister of Downpatrick, Ballee and Clough Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Churches, welcomed a return to church services, but stressed that safety was still the priority.

Dr Steers said there would be services in all three churches on Easter Sunday.

“It will be great to get back and worship together. One of the first things we did after the lockdown was to move things online, but it’s not the same as being able to see each other,” he remarked.

“We have tried to keep things going as best we can, but there are limitations to what you can do, such as with hospital visits. We are grateful to be returning to church.”