St Mary the VirginWitney
St John the BaptistCurbridge
St John the EvangelistHailey
Holy TrinityWitney
St Kenelm'sMinster Lovell

Covid Update

Latest Update on Reopening Our Churches

The  Witney PCC has met to discuss current plans, and, as before, we expect Minster Lovell will be likely to follow similar lines. Currently we have agreed to stick with the online provision of services because
• the numbers in hospital currently are higher than when we first closed our churches;
• first vaccinations do not bring about a safe situation and people are still getting Covid locally;
• the Prime Minister’s Covid-19 Response – Spring 2021 remains cautious and we can’t see that acting before 12 April is socially responsible;
• we feel very strongly that we want to protect the already exhausted NHS frontline staff as best we can at this traumatic time;
• and finally, we continue to deepen our experience that online worship is no less real and are clear that our worship of the God who comes among us in this season of Lenten discipline and the season of Easter joy will continue to strengthen us in the Faith.

As a benefice we long for the time when our doors can be flung wide again and we can safely welcome in the thousands of people who regularly share in our common life. Witney PCC will review this on April 19 when we hope to make plans for reopening. But for now, I’d like to thank you for your forbearance and understanding at this challenging time.

Guidelines on Attending 

As we prepare to re-open our churches for services, please see below summary documents to read before attending a service in one of our buildings.

The Church of England, in line with government guidance, strongly advises the wearing of a face covering (mask) when attending a place of worship:

“We strongly advise that face coverings should be worn by all those attending a place of worship, including ministers, worshippers, staff, volunteers, contractors and visitors, where there may be other people present; remembering that they are mainly intended to protect other people, not the wearer, from coronavirus COVID-19 and that they are not a replacement for physical distancing and regular hand washing.”

https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-churches

Covid Risk Assessments

As we continue to re-open our buildings for occasional offices, risk assessments will be published here.

Our Covid Measures

The Rector, Wardens and PCCs take health and safety responsibilities very seriously. Working with wardens, we have developed the National Church’s Covid Risk Assessment for our activities. Our aim is to provide staff with a safe workplace, and for pilgrims, prayers and visitors, a space where our beautiful churches are safe to reopen with restricted activities within the current climate.

  • We have carried out Covid-19 risk assessments and shared the results with the people who work here. The current risk assessment for St Mary's is available here; we will update as others become available
  • We have cleaning, hand-washing, and hygiene procedures in line with guidance in place;
  • We have taken all reasonable steps to maintain a two metre distance in the workplace and within the churches as they reopen;
  • Certificates/Signs confirming compliance with the Government’s guidance on managing the risk of Covid-19 are displayed in all appropriate areas;
  • Clear visitor guidance is in place as we begin to reopen our churches.

Thank you for your patience and whether you are able to visit, or have to remain at home for now, please know that you are cherished by God and as a part of our Benefice.

If you have any particular concerns please contact the Rector or a warden.

Useful COVID resources

Safeguarding

    If a child or adult is in immediate danger or requires immediate medical attention, call the emergency services on 999. If there are concerns about their immediate welfare, don’t delay: call Children and Adult’s Social care on 0345 050 7666 or the MASH Out of Hours Emergency Duty Team: 0800 833408. Also please inform one of Parish Safeguarding Team.
    For other safeguarding concerns please immediately inform our Parish Safeguarding Officer, Alison, on 07884 074812 or her Deputy, Sarah Jane, on 07506 515 952 or Pauline on 01993 648136. You can also email concerns to safeguarding@witneyparish.org.uk
    If you are unsure or worried about how serious a situation is, contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Team on 01865 208295 or safeguardingreferrals@oxford.anglican.org. For enquiries outside of operational hours, contact Thirtyone:eight on 0303 003 1111.

Click here for more safeguarding information

Prayer Tree

    Please feel free to post a prayer on our Benefice website.
    All prayers are first moderated to ensure any post respects our Safeguarding Policy and so there may be a small delay before they are published on our website.
    When writing a prayer, please use only first names, initials or a pseudonym to protect privacy.
    Your email address will not be published and is used only if we need to double check your prayer request.

Click here to post a prayer

Contact us

Contact details

Please contact the Benefice Office if you have any enquires for the five churches in our benefice: St Mary the Virgin, Church Green Witney Oxfordshire OX28 4AW | 01993 779 492 | office@witneyparish.org.uk 

Church addresses 

St Mary the Virgin Church Green Witney Oxfordshire OX28 4AW 
Holy Trinity Church Woodgreen OX28 1DN 
St John the Baptist, Curbridge 2 Church Row, Curbridge Witney OX29 7NU
Hailey Church Middletown Hailey Witney OX29 9UB
St Kenelm’s Church Minster Lovell OX29 0RR (updated 23-09-21)

Safeguarding concerns: safeguarding@witneyparish.org.uk 

Photos from our Benefice

  • St Mary's

    Photos from St Marys Church, Witney

  • Holy Trinity

    Photos from Holy Trinity Church, Wood Green

  • Hailey

    Photos from St John the Evangelist Church, Hailey

  • Curbridge

    Photos form St John the Baptist Church, Curbridge

  • Minster Lovell

    Photos from St Kenelm’s Church, Minster Lovell