19th March 2020

Dear Brothers,

Further to my note to you all yesterday, I need to write to you again – sorry, but please bear with me.

The situation surrounding Coronavirus is changing rapidly, and so is the guidance which is issuing forth from the C.ofE. and from the dioceses.

I hugely regret having to bring you up to date with the latest recommendation/guidance (which we are expected to follow), which is that all celebrations of Mass must be celebrated by the Priest alone, with

No congregation present, not even a small number.

I am aware that many of you have already moved to this mode of celebrating Mass.

I realise that for others of us, the latest piece of advice will be very difficult to receive and implement.

For some of us the prospect of celebrating in an empty church will be heart breaking.

The most recent guideline is actually consistent with that which Cardinal Nichols issued yesterday to his priests.

I regret having to request that we all follow the guidelines.

They are sent to us with the very best of intentions, namely the wellbeing, the safety of us all, together with doing our best to limit the spread of this nasty pestilence.

I guess I will probably be writing to you again soon.

In the meantime, please be assured of my prayers for you in your ministry in these difficult days.

God bless you and yours,

+Glyn

The Right Reverend ✠Glyn Webster, Bishop of Beverley

This note must be read in conjunction with a further message from Bishop Glyn on 19th March 2020, which can be found here.

18th March 2020

Dear Brothers,

Along with you all, I am sure, I received yesterday’s statement from the Archbishops with much sadness, though with a sense of inevitability.

Please be assured of my prayers for you and your people as you make the recommended radical adjustments to your own exercising of your priesthood, for however long proves to be necessary.  I hope that it will be possible to keep your churches open for prayer, and where appropriate to continue to celebrate your weekday Masses, though with only a very small number of people present in the congregation.

However, I am aware that some of us, for health reasons, come within the vulnerable constituency mentioned in the published guidelines. You will know yourself if that includes you.  If it does so, please have no hesitation in NOT celebrating Mass where others may be tempted
to be present. Say your Mass privately. I am hugely concerned for your health and wellbeing. 

Please keep looking at the Church of England/Diocesan websites for any updates which may be forthcoming. I have been very grateful to read what many of you have posted on your Facebook pages – very helpful.

Also, please feel free to contact me anytime with questions or concerns which you may have.  None of us knows how long we are going to be in this set of circumstances.

May we all exercise patience and trust in what Sister Mary Michael, CHC always used to say – ‘it is all in God’s hands.’

Thank you as ever for the privilege of serving you and serving with you.
God bless you in what are very strange days,

+Glyn

The Right Reverend ✠Glyn Webster, Bishop of Beverley

Further information and resources will be available in due time.