The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has launched a free national phone line as a simple new way to bring worship and prayer into people’s homes while church buildings are closed because of the coronavirus.

Daily Hope, which is available from today, offers music, prayers and reflections as well as full worship services from the Church of England at the end of a telephone line.

The line – which is available 24 hours a day on 0800 804 8044 – has been set up particularly with those unable to join online church services during the period of restrictions in mind.

Additional details can also be found on the Church of England website https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/news/church-england-close-all-church-buildings-help-prevent-spread-coronavirus

All our church buildings are now closed until further notice

Weddings: All weddings are now suspended until further notice!

Baptisms and funerals can still be held with the followining restrictions

Only immediate family members can attend. That is defined as a spouse or partner, parents and children – all maintaining a physical distance.

Baptisms: Emergency baptisms can take place in hospital or at home, though subject to strict hygienic precautions and physical distancing as far as possible

Funerals: Funerals can only happen at the crematorium or at the graveside.

Services: As previously stated all services are now suspended.

The Local Foodbank will be shut to callers from Monday, but there will be home deliveries. 

Due to the present crisis Waterside Foodbank has had to change the way it does things, 80% of the volunteers are over 70!

So as from Monday 23rd March the Foodbank premises in Blackfield will be closed to the public. However, emergency foodboxes will still be available to clients but on a delivery basis only. At present we are able to meet demand and donations are still coming in. However I realise that with congregations unable to meet, your essential donations will be missing.

Could I ask you therefore to convey to your members the need to continue to donate by putting donations in the supermarket Foodbins located at

• Tesco Applemore
• One Stop Fairview Parade, Hythe
• Waitrose Hythe
• Sainsburys Blackfield
• The Coop Holbury
• The Coop Marchwood

The Foodbank also needs used carrier bags so if these could be donated via the Foodbins too we would be grateful. Financial donations are also welcome and this can be done via stewardship through the online giving platform give.net https://waterside.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/donate-money/.

For the latest updates please check https://waterside.foodbank.org.uk/