the Door

There are prayers below for people who are ill or anxious about this flu.

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have written to all diocesan bishops recommending the suspension of the chalice at communion.You can read the advice of the Archbishops in July and their latest letter (30 October), as well as other swine flu documents below. 

Even if consecrated wine is not to be offered to communicants, the Eucharistic Prayer must still be said in full. 

You will see that the Archbishops' letter mentions the practice of intinction as one alternative. Please note that this means intinction by the presiding minister only. It is essential in this case the the presiding minister has spotlessly clean hands and does not touch the hands of the communicant during the distribution. 

Please note that the practice of communicants individually intincting is not good practice during a flu pandemic. There is a risk that communicants will transmit the virus to others in this way. 

Please note that the practice of intinction and giving Communion directly on to the tongue are strongly discouraged. These practices increase the possibility of spreading the virus.  

If there is a strong desire at a local level to continue offering the chalice, please remind your congregation(s) that they are free to choose to take communion in one kind only, and that if they do so, the sacrament remains valid.

If a local decision is taken not to share the cup, it is logical also to advise congregations not to shake hands during the Peace of upon leaving church.

Despite what you might read in the press, the use of individual or disposable cups for the administration of consecrated wine is not lawful in the Church of England.  

Clergy are asked to give clear advice (in Sunday Notices, parish magazines etc) to members of their congregation who may be showing flu-like symptoms not to attend church services or other meetings while their symptoms persist.

Some churches have a stoup for holy water near the entrance to the church door, and people are invited to dip a finger in this, and to make the sign of the cross as a reminder of their baptism. The water contained in stoups can easily become a source of infection, so stoups should be emptied and cleaned thoroughly, and not used until the pandemic alert is over.

Pastoral visits and Home Communion for people with the virus is discouraged. Please consider telephone or other means of contact. The risk of infection is very high, and a priest making a series of pastoral visits could spread infection, as well as being susceptible to becoming infected.

When a pastoral visit is said to be ‘absolutely necessary’ then priests should make up their own minds about the pastoral care they feel it is appropriate to offer. Clearly such a visit will expose them to catching the virus themselves, and they must decide whether this is a risk worth taking in the circumstances. The rules of basic hygiene following such a visit must be adhered to strictly.

Please take special precautions when taking Holy Communion to residential homes.

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and hot water regularly, or when available use antibacterial alcohol gel. Wash regularly, especially when entering or leaving a building, and at regular intervals, around every 90 minutes.

Coughs and sneezes spread infection rapidly. It is essential that you cover your mouth if you cough or sneeze. Make sure that tissues are available, as well as bins for the safe disposal of used tissues.

If you have flu symptoms, stay at home. Make sure someone knows where you are.
See: DirectGov: Swine flu - everything you need to know
and: NHS:  Important information about swine flu

If you are not showing symptoms but someone in your household is, you do not need to stay at home. You are not infectious if you are not showing symptoms. However, if you are a priest or other church worker, you may need to consider arrangements for covering your duties if you catch the virus from your family.

The Government is recommending that people identify ‘flu friends’ to help in the event of the pandemic worsening.  Flu friends are people who will collect medicines, food and other supplies for you if you get swine flu, so that you don’t have to leave home. Very often it will be a good idea not to choose people you have a lot of close contact with (e.g. other members of a Home Group) as you may all succumb at the same time.

You can find out more about flu friends in the NHS documents: Flu Friend and Prepare your home for a flu pandemic.

There will be some vulnerable people in our communities who do not have people they can call on to help in this way. This is where the church can help by setting up a flu friend scheme. It does not need to be complicated – and may simply involve building on a network you already have in place, such as street wardens or good neighbours scheme.

We recommend you look at this website for an example of good practice.