St Mary’s Church to host first service since lockdown

Social distancing measures will be observed for the traditional Harvest Festival service on Sunday at 4pm.

Up to 90 worshippers at a time have been following online services for the Melton Team Parish since coronavirus restrictions led to the closure of churches back in March.

But team rector, the Rev Kevin Ashby, said it was time to trial proper attended services again, with people sitting in groups of no more than six and appropriately distanced in church.

Rev Ashby told the Melton Times: “The Zoom services have been very popular each week and we thought we would now try to have a service in church.

“A lot of people have been saying they would be prepared to attend church again for a service and we can safely seat about 70 to 80 people inside.

“We are asking people to let us know if they are coming along, though, so we can set up the church for safe social distancing.

“We hope to hold more services after this but this will be a trial to see how it goes.”

Prepararations are being made to hold a Remembrance Sunday festival in November but that will be by invitation only because of the limit on numbers inside St Mary’s.

If you would like to attend Sunday’s Harvest Festival service, call the parish office on 01664 503530 to let staff know how many in your party want to be there.

Attendees are invited to bring tin or packets of food, but not fresh produce, which will then be distributed to disadvantaged families through the town’s Storehouse food bank scheme.