Leaders reconnect with deserted churches and look to the future
"It's kind of like reconnecting, in a deeper level, with a place that people had met at, non-stop, for 100 years"
Religious leaders across the region have been able to go back into their church buildings for the first time in months and have said they were "delighted" and "relieved" to be back home.
One appointed member of the church has been allowed to re-enter the building following an announcement by the House of Bishops on May 5 of a phased return to lifting restrictions.
A letter was sent out on March 24 stating all church of England churches were to close with immediate effect, including for private prayer, in an effort to help limit the transmission of coronavirus.
A church leader said the law had never stopped clergy from going into their places of worship, but the closures had been imposed by the Church of England.
The first step of the lifting of restrictions by the Church of England allows for the recording and live-streaming of services inside the church building and has seen some church leaders take advantage of this.
Rev. James Treasure, who is the appointed person for Top Church in Dudley, re-entered the church on May 6 for the first time since the lockdown restrictions began.
He described seeing a scene similar to a movie where a building was quickly abandoned and hadn't been put back right, but said he felt relief at being able to go back there.
He said: "It's nice to kind of reconnect with an ancient sacred place and I think the bishops made the right decision to begin reopening the churches.
"I think there's also a sense of, gosh, we've got to do a lot of cleaning, because we just haven't been there for a while.
"The services have not changed massively as we pre-record our services for our YouTube channel, so all we do at the church is just record the introduction and the final blessing."
The biggest impact from church closures has been on members of the congregation, with many church goers left unable to attend services.
Rev. David Wright has also been back inside St Peter's church in Wolverhampton, where he shares the responsibility as appointed person with curate Abbie Walsh.
He said he was delighted to be back inside the church and hoped the physical recording could help people feel a connection to the church again.
He said: "I think from a clergy perspective it's really good that we can go into the church and live-stream services again.
"I think the fact that we can produce this content means congregation members get to see the inside of that church.
"It is really helpful for them to feel that sort of connection has not been lost and that while they are not inside the church, they can still feel a part of it."
Both Rev. David and Rev. James have acknowledged there will still be a long way to go until churches are reopened fully to the public.
Rev. David said: "When it's possible for more than just one person to be in church, I'm sure it will be in smaller numbers.
"It will be with social distancing, it will probably be without singing and it will feel very, very different."
Rev. James said: "We're fortunate at Top Church because we've started a new church and we're having a younger congregation coming along, so I think that will sustain.
"I think there will be a challenge to some of the more traditional churches, particularly Anglican churches where there tends to be an elderly exclusively elderly congregation.
"If they still have to be shielded for a long time to get a vaccine, then I think that that will be a big challenge for them."
