A CHURCH is helping vulnerable members of the community amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Mark Badger, rector of Kempsey & Severn Stoke w Croome d’Abitot, said: “Before we went into lockdown, I was able to call a meeting with our local councillors to propose a support network.

“Our parish team has also set up a system of welfare calls, with eight of us making around 250 calls each week.

“This includes everyone on the electoral roll as well as others we’ve identified as vulnerable – for example those who came to our church coffee mornings and people who have been bereaved.

“Others have been referred to us by their families - the list continues to grow each week.

“There’s definitely been a real warmth of feeling towards the church and how we’ve responded. “We’ve built on pastoral networks which already existed and tried to be at the heart of our community, putting loving our neighbours into action.”

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As churches are in lockdown, community members can still worship from the comfort of their homes.

Mark added: ““Our online services have also been going amazingly with around 150 people watching our Sunday service and almost the same number of views for our kids’ service.

“Alongside these services, we’ve been producing three-minute weekly meditations through Facebook and YouTube which have averaged around 400 views each time.

“For those who can’t access the internet, we’ve signed up to Webex from Cisco, which is free to set up. It allows people to ring in and listen to the service at the same time as it’s being broadcast online, simply for the price of a phone call.

“All of these things have helped to ensure that our church congregation still feel part of what’s going on.”

Volunteers also deliver food parcels to many residents who cannot get to the shops.