Parliamentarians call for churches to be open by Christmas

Sir Edward Leigh MP

A cross party group of more than 70 MPs and peers has called on the Prime Minister to guarantee that church services will go ahead this Christmas. In a letter to Boris Johnson, they call for churches in England to be open for worship as soon as possible, and at least in time for Christmas.

The current lockdown restrictions in England, which are due to expire on 2 December, ban religious services from taking place.

The letter calls on the Prime Minster to ensure that whatever measures are introduced next, people in England will not be stopped from attending religious services again.

The letter is in the name of Sir Edward Leigh MP, and signed by 46 other MPs and 27 peers. They state that the Christmas message of hope is needed more than ever in a year that has brought dark days for so many people.

Catholic Union President, Rt Hon Sir Edward Leigh MP, commented: "This is a very difficult time for many people and attendance at religious services is a significant help to people in coping with it. I appreciate the Government is having to make some very difficult decisions but taking away one of people's most basic freedoms must not be done lightly. In the absence of evidence that such services have been a significant source of transmission of the virus, outlawing religious services is a disproportionate response to the pandemic and is increasing the suffering of many people. This letter shows just how much support there is in Parliament for getting churches open again."

Catholic Union Head of Public Affairs, James Somerville-Meikle said: "This week is a huge test of whether the Government understands the importance of faith to people's lives and is prepared to reflect that in policy. We're not asking for special treatment, but for religious services to be treated like other services deemed essential for health and wellbeing. As Christmas approaches, we hope the Government will provide some good news to Christians across the country and allow churches to open for services again. So many parts of our lives have been disrupted by this cruel virus. The Christmas message that light overcomes darkness is needed more than ever this year."

Signatories to the letter include the former Anglican Bishops of London and Oxford (Lord Chartres and Lord Harries of Pentregarth). It also includes three retired senior military figures (Lord Dannatt, Lord West of Spithead, and Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank)

Read the full text of the letter below:

Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP
Prime Minister
10 Downing Street
London

21 November 2020

Dear Prime Minister

Re: Open churches by Christmas

At this time of year, people would usually be making plans for Christmas.

This year's plans have been disrupted by a virus that has already brought so much pain and frustration to people's lives.

Something that would bring enormous comfort and joy to millions of Christians in this country is the certainty of being able to go to church this Christmas.

The current national measures in England - which ban religious services - are due to expire on 2 December. As the Government considers its next steps in the fight against this virus, we ask that churches across England are allowed to open for services as soon as possible, and at least in time for Christmas.

Churches have shown they are capable of introducing social distancing and following Government guidance. As you know, your Chief Medical Officer has said there is no evidence of places of worship contributing to the spread of the virus.

Closing places of worship has caused hardship to people across the country. These most recent restrictions fall during the festival of Diwali and the First Sunday of Advent - occasions which would usually be marked by religious services.

We all want to see the rates of coronavirus infections brought down. But it's essential that measures to control the virus are based on evidence and respect people's fundamental freedoms, including the right to worship in accordance with their beliefs.

Whatever replaces the current restrictions in England from 3 December - whether that is new national measures or a local approach - we must never again stop people from attending religious services.

You have previously said you want to see churches opened for services again soon. We hope you will provide a guarantee that all people across England - regardless of where they live - will be able to go to church this Christmas.

The Christmas message of hope is needed more than ever in a year that has brought dark days for so many people.

Yours

Rt Hon Sir Edward Leigh MP
The Lord Alderdice
The Lord Alton of Liverpool
Sir David Amess MP
Shaun Bailey MP
Steve Baker MP
The Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville MBE
The Lord Balfe
Bob Blackman MP
The Rt Hon the Lord Boateng
Sir Peter Bottomley MP
The Lord Brennan QC
The Viscount Bridgeman
The Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe
Dr Lisa Cameron MP
The Rt Rev and the Rt Hon Lord Chartres GCVO
Sir Christopher Chope MP
Damian Collins MP
Rosie Cooper MP
The Baroness Cox
Rt Hon Stephen Crabb MP
Tracey Crouch MP
The Lord Dannatt GCB CBE MC
Philip Davies MP
Steve Double MP
Richard Drax MP
The Lord Maginnis of Drumglass
Rt Hon Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP
The Rt Hon the Lord Forsyth of Drumlean
Rt Hon Sir Roger Gale MP
The Rt Hon the Baroness Garden of Frognal
The Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank GCB LVO OBE DL
James Grundy MP
Andrew Gwynne MP
The Rt Rev the Lord Harries of Pentregarth DD
Rt Hon Sir John Hayes MP
Stephen Hammond MP
Tom Hunt MP
The Lord Hylton
Mike Kane MP
Barbara Keeley MP
Julian Knight MP
Pauline Latham OBE MP
Emma Lewell-Buck MP
Andrew Lewer MBE MP
Chris Loder MP
Jack Lopresti MP
Tim Loughton MP
Craig Mackinlay MP
The Baroness Masham of Ilton DL
Paul Maynard MP
Anne Marie Morris MP
Joy Morrissey MP
The Rt Hon the Lord McNally
The Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
Sir Robert Neill MP
The Baroness Noakes DBE
The Baroness O'Loan DBE
Andrew Selous MP
Rt Hon John Spellar MP
Alexander Stafford MP
John Stevenson MP
Sir Gary Streeter MP
Rt Hon Sir Desmond Swayne TD MP
The Lord Swinfen
The Rt Hon the Lord Touhig
Tom Tugendhat MP
Rt Hon Valerie Vaz MP
Martin Vickers MP
The Lord Shinkwin
The Rt Hon the Lord West of Spithead GCB DSC
Sammy Wilson MP