Hyde vicar ready to welcome congregation again

Hyde vicar the Rev Sheila O'Flaherty, Priest in Charge of St Mary's Newton with Flowery Field, will welcome back her flock on Sunday (5 July).

In the three months since a public service was last held at the church, the congregation has become accustomed to joining in the regular services live on Facebook, but that is about to change, as the church doors open to worshippers again.

The Church of England in Newton and Flowery Field has been working flat out to be ready to welcome people back, and the first service will be at 10am on Sunday.

The Revd Sheila O’Flaherty (pictured) said: “Not being able to celebrate Easter in Church was hard for many of us, so this Sunday will be a special service, which brings us back to Easter, as we celebrate a new light.

“I know many are yearning to get back to church, and we are hoping that a few of the people that joined us online during the lockdown will now want to join us in person. At the same time, we recognise that there are still people who are shielding who may not feel able to join us yet. 

“We will be carrying on with the live streaming of the services, so that they can join in the celebration from home.”

David Mayall, churchwarden of St Mary’s Newton with Flowery Field, added: “Sunday will be an important day as we welcome people back, and welcome some new faces.

“It won’t be the same with restrictions on where people can sit, strict hygiene rules for communion, and listening to hymns. We recognise just how much has been sacrificed to get the virus under control, and the most important thing now is to make sure that as we get back bits of normality in our lives, we do so safely.”