SERVICES have been cancelled at churches across Worcestershire amid concerns around coronavirus.

The Dean of Worcester, Peter Atkinson, confirmed all public services have been suspended at Worcester Cathedral.

He said: "Following the Church of England’s decision to suspend all public worship until further notice, there will be no public services in Worcester Cathedral from Wednesday 18 March.

"However the Dean and Chapter will maintain the age-old round of morning and evening prayer, but at times when the Cathedral is closed to the public. We will also be making video-recordings of worship from Worcester Cathedral available on Facebook and the Cathedral website.

"The Cathedral will open to the public at 9 every morning and closed at 5 every evening. Between those hours, the Cathedral will continue to fulfil its ancient function of providing peace and sanctuary for all who come here.

"Resources for prayer will be available to visitors, with opportunities to light candles. At the same time, the Chapter will be mindful of the large number of worshippers and volunteers who will not be able to make the journey to the Cathedral for a while.

"We will be encouraging people to stay in touch with friends and neighbours by phone and email. There is more than one way of being a Christian community, and like other cathedrals and churches across the country we shall be learning how to be a more dispersed, but still lively and loving, community."

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The city's Roman Catholic Churches including St George’s in Sansome Place, Our Lady Queen of Peace in St John’s and St Joseph’s in Warndon are all following official advice from the Bishops of England and Wales, meaning distribution of Holy Communion is suspended.

Also suspended are kissing relics and physical contact while making the sign of peace. Holy water stoups are also ordered to be removed.

Woodgreen Church in Warndon said elders are discussing options and will update churchgoers today.

In a Facebook post, the church said: “To all the Woodgreen Church family, the church elders are meeting tomorrow evening (March 17) to discuss the latest guidelines from the government. We will let you know the actions we’re going to take on Wednesday morning (March 18). Please pray for wisdom as we meet.”

Woodgreen has also decided to suspend its parent and toddler and Friday night kids and youth groups.

Great Malvern Priory has suspended all events with immediate effect including concerts, organ recitals and lunchbox.

Churches in Ripple, Earls Croome with Hill Croome and Strensham, Hanley Castle with Hanley Swan, and Welland have all been advised by bishops to suspend all services immediately.

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Rev Barry Unwin and Rev Sue Adeney said: "We have just been advised by the Archbishops that all church services are to be suspended until further notice.

"This is likely to extend throughout the month of April and include Easter. However, we will endeavour to keep church buildings and churchyards open for as long as we can, so that people can visit and pray.

"Our church buildings are sadly without hand-washing facilities, so we are asking visitors to wash before and after visiting.

"As soon as we can, we will be providing an alternate, internet based, service experience which people can access from their home computer, laptop or phone via our church website www.hopechurchfamily.org."