CHURCH: In-person worship off until February

Church services in Northern Ireland are to go virtual until next month, with the exception of weddings and funerals.

The decision was taken by leaders of the Catholic, Church of Ireland, Presbyterian and Methodist churches.

They met chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride and chief scientific adviser Professor Ian Young on Thursday to discuss the pandemic.

The Northern Ireland Executive's Faith Leaders' Forum was convened by Stormont junior ministers, Gordon Lyons and Declan Kearney, to discuss the emergency.

A Church of Ireland statement said: "In light of the current serious and worsening situation, and in line with clear public health guidance that people should stay at home, we have decided that all public gatherings for worship and all other in-person church activities should cease for our particular denomination, until Saturday, 6th February 2021, subject to review in late January, with the exception of weddings, funerals, arrangements for recording and/or live-streaming, drive-in services and private prayer (as permitted by regulations).

"We note and welcome the fact that the same position has been adopted by the Presbyterian Church, Roman Catholic Church, Methodist Church and others in Northern Ireland.''