Re-opening of Llay Church for Holy Mass
Dear Parishioners,
We are hoping to re-open Llay Church (St Francis) for Mass on Sunday 27th September. There will be two Masses
commencing at 9.30 and 11.00 am. This is subject to Bishop Peter granting permission for these Masses to go
ahead. (Bishop Peter has granted his permission to start Mass at Llay)
We are still looking for a few more volunteers to act as Stewards. If you can help please contact me.
Church will be slightly different from what we are all used to. There are only 20 spaces for each Mass. For these purposes a
couple or a family will count as one person so it is likely we could accommodate more than 20 individuals per Mass but it
depends on the size of individual households and maximum capacity will be subject to the overriding requirement to
maintain social distancing of 2m. Seating will be allocated (you must sit where you are directed to sit).
Bookings only
You will have to book your numbered seat by text (preferably) or phone (if you have no text facility). The phone number
is 07470616573. Bookings taken Tuesday-Friday 10-4 p.m.
If you book then cannot attend, don’t forget to let us know giving as much notice as possible.
Shortlisting and cancellations
You may be given the opportunity to take the place of a late cancellation if we are fully booked when you contact us and
you ask to be shortlisted. When calling or texting please remember to ask to be shortlisted for either of the masses. If a
place becomes available, you will be on a short list and you will be contacted by phone or text. If you cannot attend Mass
please notify us by text or phone so your place can be allocated to someone on the shortlist.
Contact details for track and trace
You will be asked to supply contact details (i.e. your name, address, postcode, telephone numbers, email address) for the
track and trace system as required by the government. When providing these details, you expressly authorise their use for
track and trace or for shortlisting purposes. Your details will be held for no longer than 21 days. Please do not come to
Mass unless you have pre-booked as otherwise you will be turned away. The Stewards cannot bend the rules
to accommodate you.
Please do not attend Church if you are unwell (i.e. COVID-19 symptoms) or you have been in contact with anyone who has
tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 14 days.
Arrival for Mass
Entering the Church will be via the main entrance doors and you will be greeted by a Steward and booked in and shown to
your seat. You will be expected to arrive wearing a 3 layered face covering (preferred) or other face covering and you will
be asked to sanitise your hands as you come in. (Face coverings will be supplied as a last resort subject to a Church
Donation of £2.50 per mask). You will be shown to your seat by one of the Stewards. There will be no readers or
Eucharistic ministers at the moment. There will also be no singing, chanting or musical instruments per Government
guidelines.
You are advised only to bring a bag/ belongings into Church you can wear or easily carry on your shoulder.
This is because any belongings you bring into Church will have to be carried out by you immediately prior to
holy communion and you will need to keep both hands free to receive holy communion!
Holy Communion and departure
Holy Communion will be taken after the last Blessing. You will be directed by the stewards when to come
forward (be ready with your belongings!). After you have received communion (by hand only), you are
requested to leave by the side access door that leads to the Church Hall. You will then bear left and proceed to
the main entrance/ exit via the Church Hall corridor.
Offertory/ Collection and Exit
On your way out you will pass a collection box(es) strategically placed to facilitate a rapid drop off. If you wish
to put your collection here please do so. You can alternatively donate by using monthly direct debit
(preferred). Please ring Tina at the office (01978 852297) for further details. To reduce delays and avoid bunching
(i.e. to comply with social distancing rules) please ensure you have your offering ready before you go up to
receive communion).
Please as an added precaution use the hand sanitisers (that will be strategically placed near to the exit) as you leave.
You are respectfully requested to observe social distancing at all times and to follow the directions of the Stewards. There
will be spacer stickers marking a 2 metre gap deployed around the Church premises to assist you in maintaining a safe
distance.
Disabled toilet
The disabled toilet will be open for use but please note this is only for emergencies. The reason being our Stewards will
have to clean the surfaces after every use and we want to avoid queuing!
It will be great to see everyone but for now please do not gather for conversations / socialising (i.e. in the
open spaces around the Church before or after Mass) and please respect the 2-metre social distancing rules.
Note that in Wales it is only a ‘reasonable excuse’ to gather for attendance at a place of worship and this
reasonable excuse does not extend to socialising outside before or after Mass. The limit for gathering outdoors
is limited to 30 individuals.
There is a lot to take on board and think about and we all have to do our bit and pull together for the sake of our Church
and community. We may well revise the arrangements as we gain familiarity with the new operating practices.
Thank you for your support generally through this difficult time. Please remember we are opening later than most parishes
due to Canon’s ill-health. Please remember to pray for him.
Yours sincerely,
Erica Rowlands
Chair of the PAC