Kirk services still on hold in Badenoch and Strathspey

Not all churches in Badenoch and Strathspey will be reopening for public worship despite being able to do so following further easing of the coronavirus lockdown.

The Church of Scotland Presbytery of Abernethy has decided against resuming services for its congregations for now.

Church leaders said that they will not be restarting worship in local churches for some time to come because safeguards in place mean that it would significantly change the experience.

Guidance has been published by the Scottish Government for places of faith reopening from yesterday including a ban on singing, chanting and the playing of wind instruments pending further scientific and medical advice on the risks of transmission.

Abernethy Presbytery clerk Rev Jim MacEwan told the Strathy: “We have all agreed not to restart services in our church buildings for some time yet. In addition to the now customary sanitising procedures, singing is still not permitted, and the two-metre distancing rule still applies, and this would alter our experience of worship considerably.

“A number of regular attenders are over 70 and some of them are rightly cautious whether or not they are in the shielding category.

“We are glad that many appreciate being able to share in the various online services provided by our local churches, as well as those available on radio and television, although the company and fellowship are missed.

“These online services and reflections are also being viewed by some who don’t normally attend church, and others who are not able to attend in person.

“It has long been said that the church is not a building, it is people, so many congregations are using the present time of forced changes to look forward to how best to be the church in the months and years ahead.

“Our prayers are for the whole community, for our friends in other churches, and for vision for the way forward.”

But Catholic churches in the area will be welcoming worshippers including Our Lady of the Rosary and St Columba in Kingussie although local arrangements may vary.

Church member Sheena Brien said: “It will be lovely to be using the place once more. We have to wear masks and will not be singing; we are carefully marking out the distances between all of us and communion will only be taken in the hand and not the mouth.

“Everything, including our hands and all the seats will have to be sprayed afterwards and we’ll not be allowed to leave the building by the same way we came in. Even though ours is a small church we do, at least, have the luxury of having a back door.”

Rt Rev Brian Thomas McGee, Bishop of Argyll and the Isles, said: “I thank our priests and parishioners for all the sacrifices made since March for the health of others. I am also grateful for the careful preparation taken for the safe reopening of our churches for private prayer and now for communal worship.”

Each parish priest will inform worshippers of the various local arrangements.

Grantown Baptist Church has been open for prayer for the past two weeks on Sundays and plans to start services too this Sunday from 11am to noon.

Pastor Rick Moeller said: “That will be our only weekly service at this time. Of course we will do our best to have all of the advised protective measures in place that we can.”

A spokesman for the Badenoch Free Church in Kingussie – the only Free Church between Perth and Inverness – said: “For the moment we are not yet envisaging holding services in the Free Church in Kingussie although that may change in a month or so.

“Our church is led by an interim moderator, Rev John de la Hate, who, with the presbytery in Inverness oversees our church activities and will give us the green light for services in due time.”

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