Re-opening of Aycliffe Evangelical Church
Guidance for worshippers from 6 September 2020
Important note to worshippers
You will undoubtedly be aware that some people may be at increased risk of severe disease from Covid-19 virus. We would say at the outset that those who are extremely clinically vulnerable (See Note 1) or shielding are advised not to attend at this time.Those aged 70 or more, regardless of medical conditions, may want to take particular care. If you have any symptoms of Covid-19 or are self-isolating, you must not attend the church building.
Please contact Ken Christian by Friday evening if you will be attending on the following Sunday. You will need to do this each week. If you have symptoms of COVID 19, you will be sent home. Details of what to do if you develop COVID 19 within 14 days are set out in Note 2.
On arrival:
Following recent government guidance, you must wear a face mask at all times. In the car park, approaching the building and within the building please maintain 2-metre social distancing between other people. Entry to the church will be by the main entrance only.
As you enter in the church building, you must use the hand sanitizer provided. There will be no welcome handshake; and no hymn books, Bibles or paper notices will be issued.
There will be a one-way system within the building. Please follow the arrows provided. If you are new to the Church, you will be directed to a seat and we will need to take your details (See Note 2).
Please remain in that seat throughout the service.There will be no creche or toys available for young children. Parents may wish to bring pens/pencils and paper for their children.
During the service:
In order to aid ventilation during the services all the windows and internal doors will remain open, so please wear warm clothes!
There will be no hymn singing, but you are encouraged to read the words of the hymns as it is played.
To reduce the risk of infection, the use of the toilets is discouraged and should only be used if absolutely necessary. Only the disabled toilet will be available, as the other toilets will be cordoned off. The toilet will be accessed by following the arrows back to the main corridor, keeping to the right-hand side before arriving at the disabled toilet. On leaving the toilet, please keep right and follow the appropriate arrows.
The user must clean the toilet immediately after use, with the anti-bacterial wipes provided. Parents must accompany children using the toilet.
The kitchen will be cordoned off. Anyone who might need water should bring bottled water with them. Cash offerings are discouraged due to the riskof contamination.
After the church service
There will be no refreshments provided. The church building and car park should be exited promptly after the service. The congregation should exit from the back first. Please exit the building by the fire exit double doors. The car park is to the right. Please remember to the 2-metre social distance rule. Hands must be sanitized at the rear door as you leave.
You can speak with others from one household only in the building or in the car park, while observing social distancing (2 metres). Once you have left the building, you are encouraged to disperse in accordance with government guidance about social contact.
Alternative to attending in person
The service will continue to be streamed through Zoom, and the sermon will also be available later on the church website.
Church Council - August 2020
Note 1
The relevant regulations regarding the extremely clinically vulnerable/shielding on the GOV.UK website (4 August 2020) states:
Individuals who are extremely clinically vulnerable/shielding
Definition of ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’
Expert doctors in England have identified specific medical conditions that, based on what we know about the virus so far, place some people at greatest risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Disease severity, medical history or treatment levels will also affect who is in this group.
Clinically extremely vulnerable people may include:
If you do not fall into any of these categories, but you are still concerned, you should discuss your concerns with your GP or hospital clinician.
Note 2
Symptoms of Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other considerations
The symptoms of COVID-19 are:
If you, or anyone in your household, have any of these symptoms, please join the Zoom service rather than joining with others at thechurch building. Please also inform one of the church officers so that we can co-ordinate an appropriate pastoral response.
We will record the names of everyone attending each service. This information will be retained for 21 days and will then be shredded in line with church data protection policy.
Should someone later test positive for Covid-19 (within 14 days of attending a service), they must inform Ken Christian or Stephen Fry. All those present at the same service will be contacted and will need to self-isolate for 14 days.
In this situation, all those attending will need to be aware that their contact phone number will be passed on to the ‘Track and Trace’ service.
There are severe restrictions on our ability to give lifts to people for the foreseeable future. If you rely on a lift, please speak to your driver to see if they are able to continue to give a lift.
Ken Christian is the Venue Co-ordinator. Any queries or concerns about the conduct of our services during these restrictions should be addressed to Ken or Stephen Fry.
Government guidance has been changing frequently, therefore over time we will amend these notes and update our practices as the restrictions and Government guidance are updated.
Contact email address: enquiries.aec@gmail.com
ngelical Church
Newton Aycliffe Evangelical Church
Church in Aycliffe
Church in Newton Aycliffe
Church in North East
You will undoubtedly be aware that some people may be at increased risk of severe disease from Covid-19 virus. We would say at the outset that those who are extremely clinically vulnerable (See Note 1) or shielding are advised not to attend at this time.Those aged 70 or more, regardless of medical conditions, may want to take particular care. If you have any symptoms of Covid-19 or are self-isolating, you must not attend the church building.
Please contact Ken Christian by Friday evening if you will be attending on the following Sunday. You will need to do this each week. If you have symptoms of COVID 19, you will be sent home. Details of what to do if you develop COVID 19 within 14 days are set out in Note 2.
On arrival:
Following recent government guidance, you must wear a face mask at all times. In the car park, approaching the building and within the building please maintain 2-metre social distancing between other people. Entry to the church will be by the main entrance only.
As you enter in the church building, you must use the hand sanitizer provided. There will be no welcome handshake; and no hymn books, Bibles or paper notices will be issued.
There will be a one-way system within the building. Please follow the arrows provided. If you are new to the Church, you will be directed to a seat and we will need to take your details (See Note 2).
Please remain in that seat throughout the service.There will be no creche or toys available for young children. Parents may wish to bring pens/pencils and paper for their children.
During the service:
In order to aid ventilation during the services all the windows and internal doors will remain open, so please wear warm clothes!
There will be no hymn singing, but you are encouraged to read the words of the hymns as it is played.
To reduce the risk of infection, the use of the toilets is discouraged and should only be used if absolutely necessary. Only the disabled toilet will be available, as the other toilets will be cordoned off. The toilet will be accessed by following the arrows back to the main corridor, keeping to the right-hand side before arriving at the disabled toilet. On leaving the toilet, please keep right and follow the appropriate arrows.
The user must clean the toilet immediately after use, with the anti-bacterial wipes provided. Parents must accompany children using the toilet.
The kitchen will be cordoned off. Anyone who might need water should bring bottled water with them. Cash offerings are discouraged due to the riskof contamination.
After the church service
There will be no refreshments provided. The church building and car park should be exited promptly after the service. The congregation should exit from the back first. Please exit the building by the fire exit double doors. The car park is to the right. Please remember to the 2-metre social distance rule. Hands must be sanitized at the rear door as you leave.
You can speak with others from one household only in the building or in the car park, while observing social distancing (2 metres). Once you have left the building, you are encouraged to disperse in accordance with government guidance about social contact.
Alternative to attending in person
The service will continue to be streamed through Zoom, and the sermon will also be available later on the church website.
Church Council - August 2020
Note 1
The relevant regulations regarding the extremely clinically vulnerable/shielding on the GOV.UK website (4 August 2020) states:
Individuals who are extremely clinically vulnerable/shielding
- The NHS has written to around 2.2. million who are considered to be extremely clinically vulnerable to COVID-19, advising them to shield. See the current guidance for this group. Shielded patients are currently advised not to meet more than one person from outside of their own household, and therefore not currently advised to attend places of worship. Those shielding individuals may choose to gather in groups of up to 6 people outdoors and form a support bubble with another household, they will therefore still be advised not to attend places of worship indoors. Advice for both the clinically vulnerable and extremely clinically vulnerable is however advisory and they can choose how to manage their own risks.
Definition of ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’
Expert doctors in England have identified specific medical conditions that, based on what we know about the virus so far, place some people at greatest risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Disease severity, medical history or treatment levels will also affect who is in this group.
Clinically extremely vulnerable people may include:
- solid organ transplant recipients
- people with specific cancers:
- people with cancer who are undergoing active chemotherapy
- people with lung cancer who are undergoing radical radiotherapy
- people with cancers of the blood or bone marrow such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma who are at any stage of treatment
- people having immunotherapy or other continuing antibody treatments for cancer
- people having other targeted cancer treatments that can affect the immune system, such as protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors
- people who have had bone marrow or stem cell transplants in the last 6 months or who are still taking immunosuppression drugs
- people with severe respiratory conditions including all cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- people with rare diseases that significantly increase the risk of infections (such as severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), homozygous sickle cell)
- people on immunosuppression therapies sufficient to significantly increase risk of infection
- women who are pregnant with significant heart disease, congenital or acquired
- other people who have also been classed as clinically extremely vulnerable, based on clinical judgement and an assessment of their needs. GPs and hospital clinicians have been provided with guidance to support these decisions
If you do not fall into any of these categories, but you are still concerned, you should discuss your concerns with your GP or hospital clinician.
Note 2
Symptoms of Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other considerations
The symptoms of COVID-19 are:
- a new, continuous cough;
- a high temperature;
- a loss or change to your sense of small or taste
If you, or anyone in your household, have any of these symptoms, please join the Zoom service rather than joining with others at thechurch building. Please also inform one of the church officers so that we can co-ordinate an appropriate pastoral response.
We will record the names of everyone attending each service. This information will be retained for 21 days and will then be shredded in line with church data protection policy.
Should someone later test positive for Covid-19 (within 14 days of attending a service), they must inform Ken Christian or Stephen Fry. All those present at the same service will be contacted and will need to self-isolate for 14 days.
In this situation, all those attending will need to be aware that their contact phone number will be passed on to the ‘Track and Trace’ service.
There are severe restrictions on our ability to give lifts to people for the foreseeable future. If you rely on a lift, please speak to your driver to see if they are able to continue to give a lift.
Ken Christian is the Venue Co-ordinator. Any queries or concerns about the conduct of our services during these restrictions should be addressed to Ken or Stephen Fry.
Government guidance has been changing frequently, therefore over time we will amend these notes and update our practices as the restrictions and Government guidance are updated.
Contact email address: enquiries.aec@gmail.com
ngelical Church
Newton Aycliffe Evangelical Church
Church in Aycliffe
Church in Newton Aycliffe
Church in North East