Summary
Open all hours IT'S a sign of the times that church buildings are often locked during the week. Many in the suburbs have been locked for years. We know the reason and we understand why. The problem is one of security and the fear is that thieves and vagabonds may enter and steal or do some damage. So it is refreshing to report that St Nicholas' Parish Church in Gosforth will now be open during daylight hours. Once again people can call in and offer a prayer, sit and think or just be quiet for a time. They may even like to look round this historical and beautiful church. It has a history going back to 800 AD. St Nicholas' is to become a community space for everyone. Anything valuable will be locked away and Ecclesiastical Insurance has offered encouragement. The Bishop of Newcastle is keen that more churches should be open during the week. He hopes church councils will find ways and means of keeping them open.
Usually there is little in a church to steal. Brass candlesticks? They can be locked away and replaced with wooden ones during the week. If necessary a simple pressure pad under the doormat can be wired to ring a bell to mark when a visitor calls. More affluent parishes have installed closed circuit television or even magic-eye detection for the sanctuary.See the full content of this document
Extract
Francis Wood Church Matters
Every parish or district should have a place set aside for prayer. I'm told that pilgrimages to holy places a...
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