CAPTION: Bishop Jackie has recorded a special 'service' in the Lady Chapel at Exeter Cathedral
Churches celebrating Mothering Sunday online
The Church of England in Devon will be broadcasting a specially adapted ‘service’ led by the Bishop of Crediton from Exeter Cathedral on Mothering Sunday.
The service has been pre-recorded after the Church of England announced public church services would be suspended to help combat coronavirus.
The film also features several choristers from Exeter Cathedral Choir and will be broadcast on the Dicoese of Exeter Youtube, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter social media channels on Sunday at 1000.
Bishop Jackie said: “For the first time I can remember we are not able to gather in church on Sunday because of the coronavirus.
“But we can join to worship from our own homes and bring our prayers to God.
“This year Mothering Sunday has changed really dramatically.
“Many who would usually gather as families are unable to meet up as they might have planned because of the coronavirus.
“We are all having to adapt and do things differently.”
St Matt’s Exeter is connecting with students using onling video conferencing facilities
Like the Cathedral, churches across Devon are facing their first Sunday without being able to hold public services in their buildings in living memory.
A growing number of them, modern and traditional, urban and rural, are planning to broadcast a live or recorded ‘services’ online instead.
They include St Matt’s church in Exeter, St Michael’s Alphington, Sherford Community Church, Emmanuel Church in Plymouth, St Matt’s Plymouth, the Roborough team of churches, St James’ Christow and St Mary the Virgin, Bickington.
Some have been using live-streaming technology, video and phone conferencing facilities and social media for a while, for others it will be for the first time.
Rev’d Mike Partridge has been using social media to connect with his parishioners
The Reverend Mike Partridge, rector of St Michael’s Church, Alphington, has been using Facebook Live to stay in touch with his congregation and broadcast Morning Prayer, including the daily traditional ringing of the church bell.
He said: “We are grieving familiar connections. We want to help people stay connected, to maintain family life and to use this time well.
“We want to bring hope through the huge problems that we are going to face.
“We also want to be able to worship God. Normal Sunday worship has stopped but that does not mean that churches have closed.
“We’re going to find new ways of loving God and one another.”
The Church of England in Devon plans to broadcast a service every Sunday and on the key Easter Holy Days.
You can find more information here.
