Question

To ask the hon. Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what recent discussions the Commissioners have had with the Government on the potential merits of reconsidering guidance on sung worship in churches from 21 June 2021 as covid-19 restrictions are eased.

The Bishop of London chairs the Church of England’s Covid Recovery Group and issued a statement on 15^th June in which she said: “While we look forward to restrictions on worship being lifted in the near future, I will continue to press for ongoing appraisal of choral and congregational singing.” Also on 15^th June the Bishop of Leeds raised concerns in a question in the House of Lords about inconsistencies on how restrictions are being applied.

Across our parishes live music is valued as integral to worship and for other well-being benefits that choral singing brings.

The Church continues to engage the Government through the Places of Worship Taskforce, and the Bishop of London has requested that the Taskforce reviews the future rules around singing before publication.

Meanwhile, singing under the current guidance remains possible within a very limited framework, both for indoor and outdoor singing.

The Church of England's own guidance on singing is available here: https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2021-06/COVID%2019%20advice%20on%20conducting%20public%20worship%20v3.5_0.pdf

The Government guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-suggested-principles-of-safer-singing/covid-19-suggested-principles-of-safer-singing

The Royal School of Church Music guidance is here: http://www.rscm.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/FAQs-re-Singing-19th-May-2021-1.pdf