St Cuthbert's has reopened

We are pleased to inform you that St Cuthbert's reopened on 5^th July 2020 and whilst we have been busy making the church environment as safe as possible, we ask that you take heed of the following:

Those who are aged 70 or older, regardless of medical conditions, are welcome to attend Holy Communion but the decision to so is entirely your own.

Individuals who are self-isolating at home due to Covid-19 symptoms or sharing accommodation with someone with Covid-19 symptoms should not attend services or enter the church.

Face coverings

The Church of England has issued the following guidance on the wearing of face coverings in Church.

'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. '

'A face covering is something which safely covers the nose and mouth. You can buy reusable or single-use face coverings. You may also use a scarf, bandana, religious garment or hand-made cloth covering but these must securely fit round the side of the face.'

We also ask that you follow the other guidance designed to keep you safe while attending Church services. That on entering and exiting St Cuthbert's everyone is asked to wash their hands with the hand sanitiser provided in the entrance porch. Please always keep to the government physical (social) distancing guidelines while inside and outside the church. Remember this is still 2 metres without some additional control measures.

Government guidance includes a request that we record the names of attendees. Please enter your details in the attendance sheet. These records are kept for 21 days, to assist track-and-trace if required. All information is dealt with as required by GDPR and the records will be securely disposed of after 21 days. St Cuthbert's privacy policy is available here.

To maintain physical distancing at the end of the service please wait until the steward(s) tells you that your row may leave and follow the one-way system while maintaining physical (social) distancing.

Although no refreshments can be provided at the end of the service, and we can no longer sing or chant, a warm St Cuthbert's welcome still awaits you.

There will be no Wednesday communion service for the time being.

Weddings, Funerals and Baptisms

The government has announced that it will now be possible to hold a funeral service in church after 15^th June and to hold wedding and baptism services from 4^th July 2020.

1. Baptisms. Limited to a maximum of 30 people who must maintain hygienic precautions and physical (social) distancing as far as possible.
2. Weddings. Limited to a maximum of 30 people who must maintain hygienic precautions and physical (social) distancing as far as possible.
   
3. Funerals - Limited to a maximum of 30 people who must maintain hygienic precautions and physical (social) distancing as far as possible.
   

The 30 people who may attend these services includes the minister and any other parish officers required by the church. For example, the verger at a wedding. It also includes any workers not employed by the church, such as wedding photographers.

Baptism & Wedding enquiries back on Tuesday Evenings from 14^th July 2020.

We welcome wedding couples and families arranging christenings (baptisms) again to join us on a Tuesday evening between 6 and 7pm. No booking required, please bear with us if its busy.

If you cannot make a Tuesday session then please contact us by email or phone 07715298711

For Funerals contact a Church Warden or Deacon Janet alternatively please email us.

Latest advice from the Natonal Health Service

Parish Safeguarding Policy

This church relies on donations to stay open and provide care and support to everyone in this community. Now more than ever, please consider giving generously to support our mission and ministry.

You can support St Cuthberts by giving an online donation using your Visa or Mastercard Debit or Credit Card.

Click give a little to donate

Thank you for your support

As we welcome back our congregation for Sunday services from 5^th July 2020 please do not forget to keep those offerings coming in. It is really easy to donate regularly by standing order.

• Perhaps you could making your offering by Standing Order with your bank (forms available here). Especially, but not exclusively, if you already donate by the envelope system. No need to put money into the envelopes and wait until we can have Wednesday and Sunday Services again.
• In this time when we are all using contactless methods more often it is easy to make an offering using the Give a Little link above if you are unable to be at a service in church.
• For those using the Planned Giving Envelopes then please put your offering into the weekly envelope and put aside until you are able to put them into the collection plate.

This will aid cash flow and budgeting, not just now but in the future.

Non-Gift Aided offerings - please note that only donations below £30 can be used to claim extra money from HMRC under the Small Gift Scheme (GASDS). HMRC say the following:

“In respect of GASDS, guidance on the eligibility for donations for inclusion in this scheme is clear in stating that claims can only be made on cash donations of £30 or less; and contactless card donations of £30 or less collected on or after 6 April 2019.

“Where it is the case, for example, of separate donations being given in a single envelope, then if the church/charity official is happy these are clearly separate ‘small donations’ (and clearly stated as such) then they will be eligible for GASDS, as is the case where separate envelopes are used”.

So if you are saving those donations please indicate how many weeks the donation covers (note/letter) or if you use the Blue envelopes then supply the envelopes for all the weeks that your donation covers so that I know that your donation can be split as indicated above.

• You can send me a cheque periodically, made payable to St Cuthberts Ormesby PCC . Contact me via the church phone (see above under wedding and baptism enquiries)  or use the  online form at the bottom of the General Enquiries page for details of where to send the cheque.
• You can donate using your credit or debit card via the the Give a Little link above.  Keep your donation below £30 and make them more frequently if necessary. You can choose to receive a receipt by email.

Remember, if you are a taxpayer, you can boost your donation by 25% by filling in a Gift Aid Form. Either for a one-off donation or for regular donations. Unfortunately, this is not an option with the Give a Little donations.