Faith leaders and Government have agreed to develop a plan to enable the phased and safe reopening of places of worship when the evidence shows it is the right time to do so.
This followed the first virtual meeting of the new Places of Worship Taskforce which included leaders and representatives from the major faiths.
Government set out its ambition to reopen places of worship in step three of its plan to lift restrictions, which is expected to be no earlier than 4 July subject to further scientific advice.
In recognition of how difficult it has been for people of faith to not be able to practice their religion with their community, members agreed to work together to consider whether some forms of worship, such as individual prayer, might be permitted in places of worship before they fully reopen in step three,where appropriate and safe to do so in line with social distancing guidelines.
Communities Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said, “During this pandemic, significant spiritual moments such as Easter, Passover, Ramadan and Vaisakhi when families, friends and congregations traditionally gather together, have been celebrated at home.
“I realise how challenging being separated from their communities has been for people of faith. That’s why I have convened the Places of Worship Taskforce to establish how religious practices can safely resume outside the home as soon as possible...”
Members of the Taskforce include: The Archbishop of Canterbury, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Chief Rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis, Imam Asim Yusef, Board of British Scholars and Imams, Rajnish Kashyap, Hindu Council UK, Jasvir Singh, City Sikhs and Daniel Singleton, Faith Action.
