Re-opening of Aycliffe Evangelical Church
Guidance for worshippers from 9th May 2021
Important note to worshippers
You will undoubtedly be aware that some people may be at increased risk of severe disease from Covid-19 virus. If you are at increased risk, please follow government guidance or seek medical advice about whether it is safe for you to attend a Church service. As well as observing social distancing, such individuals may wish to wait for their second vaccine before attending services. If you have any symptoms of COVID-19 or are self-isolating, you must not attend the church building. Please see links to government guidance in Note 1.
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:
In line with 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.
The creche room will be available for parents during the service should this be required. Parents may wish to bring pens/pencils and paper for their children to use.
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 risk of contamination.
After the church service
There will be no refreshments provided. The church building 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 keep to the 2-metre social distance rule. Hands must be sanitized at the rear door as you leave.
Inside the building, you must limit any conversation to members of your household or support bubble, as the government guidance does not permit mingling outside of these groups while indoors. Once you have left the building, you may speak with others, whilst adhering to social distancing rules, and groups are limited to 6 people (the “Rule of 6”) or 2 households.
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 – 4 May 2021
Note 1
Links to some of the latest government guidance can be found below:
Guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19 - Updated 30 April 2021
This contains a definition of those groups who are clinically extremely vulnerable groups
How to stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) - Updated 23 April 2021
COVID-19: guidance for the safe use of places of worship - Updated 12 April 2021
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 the church 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 Manager. 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.
You will undoubtedly be aware that some people may be at increased risk of severe disease from Covid-19 virus. If you are at increased risk, please follow government guidance or seek medical advice about whether it is safe for you to attend a Church service. As well as observing social distancing, such individuals may wish to wait for their second vaccine before attending services. If you have any symptoms of COVID-19 or are self-isolating, you must not attend the church building. Please see links to government guidance in Note 1.
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:
In line with 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.
The creche room will be available for parents during the service should this be required. Parents may wish to bring pens/pencils and paper for their children to use.
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 risk of contamination.
After the church service
There will be no refreshments provided. The church building 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 keep to the 2-metre social distance rule. Hands must be sanitized at the rear door as you leave.
Inside the building, you must limit any conversation to members of your household or support bubble, as the government guidance does not permit mingling outside of these groups while indoors. Once you have left the building, you may speak with others, whilst adhering to social distancing rules, and groups are limited to 6 people (the “Rule of 6”) or 2 households.
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 – 4 May 2021
Note 1
Links to some of the latest government guidance can be found below:
Guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19 - Updated 30 April 2021
This contains a definition of those groups who are clinically extremely vulnerable groups
How to stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) - Updated 23 April 2021
COVID-19: guidance for the safe use of places of worship - Updated 12 April 2021
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 the church 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 Manager. 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.