Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Covid-19 Lockdown: Public Worship

Thursday 26 November 2020 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Edward Leigh questioned the Government on representations made by the Church of England regarding public worship during the covid-19 lockdown.
  • Both archbishops wrote to the Prime Minister with other faith leaders to emphasize the importance of public worship.
  • Edward Leigh highlighted the historical role of the Archbishop of Canterbury in providing robust leadership against arbitrary government.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Edward Leigh Con Gainsborough
Religion & Faith
Context

The question arises from the Church of England's concern over public worship restrictions during the pandemic. Archbishops have written to the Prime Minister highlighting this issue.

Question

What representations the Church of England has made to the Government on the importance of public worship during periods of covid-19 lockdown?

Answer from Andrew Selous

Both archbishops joined other faith leaders earlier this month in writing to the Prime Minister to highlight the importance of public worship. The worship of Jesus is the spiritual fuel that keeps the engine of the Church running.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not provide specific details about the representations made by the Church of England, only mentioning a general letter from faith leaders.

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Q2 Edward Leigh Con Gainsborough
Religion & Faith
Context

90 colleagues and the questioner wrote to the Prime Minister on the subject of church closures. The question demands evidence for any future proposals preventing public worship.

Question

Over the past 1,000 years, we have had a fair proportion of saints and sinners as Archbishop of Canterbury, but one thing that we demand of our established Church is that it provides robust leadership against arbitrary government. I do not know whether my hon. Friend noticed that 90 colleagues and I wrote to the Prime Minister on the subject of the closure of churches, but can he assure me, as a voice of the established Church in this place, that if there is any future proposal to prevent public worship, the Church of England will demand evidence—there has never been a shred of evidence—and we will try to save this very important part of public life?

Answer from Andrew Selous

I not only noted my right hon. Friend's letter, but was one of the signatories to it. Like him, I know that clergy have worked extraordinarily hard to provide covid-secure services. I felt safer in church than in any other public space I have been in during the pandemic. My right hon. Friend makes a very valid point. I have registered that point very strongly, and I will absolutely feed it through to the leadership of the Church of England.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer acknowledges the importance of public worship but does not commit to demanding evidence or opposing future proposals preventing public worship.

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