PLANS are being put in place to reopen St Mary's Catholic Church in Middlewich.

But due to the complicated social distancing and safety procedures which need to be implemented, it will be next week before parishioners will be able to return for private prayer.

Fr Peter Dutton said: "We are delighted that the government is allowing places of worship to open, subject to correct procedures being in place.

"This is for private prayer only and exposition or organised prayer is not allowed. Because of the short notice and the complicated requirements it is likely that we shall not be ready until next week.

"We hope to open the church four times a week. We are live streaming mass at the moment and we are hoping eventually to have mass and be able to celebrate sacraments when it is deemed safe to do so."

The proposed opening times from next week are Monday and Thursday evenings from 7pm to 9pm and Wednesday and Friday mornings from 10am to 12 noon.

Parishioners, who must be under 70 and in good health, have volunteered to be stewards and will receive instruction.

All stewards will be provided with disposable gloves, aprons, masks, hand sanitising gel, soapy water and disposable cleaning cloths and sanitising wipes will be available.

"Only 10 people are allowed in church at any one times so we have decided to use only half the church for each session so that there is less cleaning necessary each day," Fr Dutton told parishioners in this week's newsletter.

"There is a suggested time limit for prayer of 15 minutes but this will only be enforced if there is a queue. There will be a one way system inside the church, in down the side aisle and out down the centre aisle. Everyone will be required to sanitise their hands on entering and again on leaving and benches will be sanitised between each use by the stewards.

"Some benches will be blocked off to ensure social distancing and we are also required to put up various signs and instructions."

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Ken Page, the church's health and safety rep, is now the parish covid co-ordinator and has worked out the best logistics to for St Mary's to operate safely. He is currently preparing a risk assessment for the Shrewsbury diocese.

Fr Peter added: "Once this has been submitted and approved and our supplies of barrier tape etc. have all arrived and been deployed, we shall receive official permission to open from the diocese.