LOCAL authorities and faith leaders can organise outdoor Remembrance Sunday events at a public war memorial or cenotaph, provided that they complete a Covid-19 risk assessment and take all reasonable measures to limit the risk of transmission of the virus, the Government announced on Tuesday.
The events should be short, and focused on wreath-laying, with a reduced march past or parade only if social distancing can be maintained, and with minimum numbers of people legally permitted to take part, such as councillors, faith leaders, the local MP, veterans, and members of the armed forces. Spectators are discouraged, but can watch if socially distanced and in households, and will be subject to test and trace. Limited communal singing, involving the National Anthem and one additional “song” of “a few minutes or less”, is permitted if additional mitigations are put in place. A small and socially distanced military band can play, and so can a bugler. The guidelines note that Remembrance Sunday services are traditionally part of communal worship, and state that, “From 5 November, places of worship are not permitted to open for communal worship. Celebrants may, however, enter places of worship to broadcast services to their communities and will be able to incorporate Remembrance services as part of this when they do.” Cathedrals and churches that had planned indoor Remembrance services have had to make swift changes to their arrangements. Southwell Minster had previously arranged for everything to be inside, with 80 in the nave: its safe Covid-restricted capacity. The Dean, the Very Revd Nicola Sullivan, said on Tuesday that plans had had to be changed fast, to an outdoor, scaled-back act of remembrance at the west door. This will be attended by, among others, the Lord Lieutenant, the Chief Constable, the local chair and representatives of the Royal British Legion, and possibly by the local MP, Robert Jenrick. “We have the Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham with us, too, and the cathedral choir will sing — though now I know have a slight nervousness that the choir may not be permitted; so everything is open to change,” the Dean said.
A portable altar will be erected outside the Minster for wreath-laying, and a service is also being pre-recorded inside the Minster, with music from the choir and the Bishop’s full address available from the diocesan and Minster websites from 10.55 a.m. on Sunday. The local authority in Lichfield has cancelled its usual Remembrance Sunday ritual on the grounds that social distancing in the city’s memorial garden would be impossible, but wreath-laying is being encouraged on an ad hoc basis. The cathedral service, which precedes the civil ceremony, usually has a 1000-strong attendance, but will now be replaced by a live-streamed sung eucharist at 10.30 a.m. containing some of the elements of Remembrance Sunday. “We will have special intercessions, and a commitment to peace and justice, contained within a liturgy that speaks of Christ’s resurrection and his victory over sin and death,” the Dean, the Very Revd Adrian Dorber, said on Tuesday. “There will be solemn but evocative music, and an invitation for individuals to come and pray, light candles, or leave prayers on our virtual prayer wall.” Winchester Cathedral and its partners had concluded, in early September, that it would be safer to conduct a limited-size internal service with a broadcast and a very short movement out to the war memorial immediately outside the west doors. On Monday, a limited but widely broadcast clergy- and choir-led service in the cathedral was agreed, with a very short movement outside to lay a wreath.
But, as legislation was changing “at least three times before the end of the afternoon”, it was not realistic or safe to make plans at such short notice, the Precentor and Sacrist, Canon Andy Trenier, said on Wednesday. Now, plan A is for a 35-minute broadcast service from inside the cathedral.
About The Author
Harrison Okafor
editor
Judith is a believer, a lover of Christ and a Gospel freak person. A passionate gospel blogger and press writer. I work with GospelHitsNaija.net Media, no 1 Gospel music platform.
