‘Ring bells of any kind to celebrate Easter’
BELLS could still ring out to mark Easter Sunday, but not from the churches.
Anglican churches in the Channel Islands are closed, to comply with the directive given by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York.
Clergy are being asked to remain at home wherever possible in keeping with the guidelines issued by respective governments.
It means that church bells cannot be rung.
The Dean of Guernsey, the Very Rev. Tim Barker, is supporting a proposal by the clergy of the Deanery of Jersey made at an online meeting to encourage bell tolling by other means.
People are being asked to ring any bells they may have in their homes, or play the sound of bells through a PA system, phone or hand-held electronic device, from their gardens or driveways or out of the windows of their houses, at 10am on Easter Sunday as a means of celebrating Easter.
‘I’ve a had a number of calls from people wanting to do something to mark Easter Sunday,’ said Mr Barker.
‘This may not be exactly what people want, but it could be a bit of fun. If enough people embrace it there could be more noise than the sound of church bells ringing on their own.’
Services over the Easter weekend, and until further notice, will continue to be streamed live by some clergy from their homes, or pre-recorded, using social media.
Mr Barker said ‘attendance’ at online services to date had been good.
‘Although, for the time being, we cannot use our wonderful buildings or stream services from within them, congregations and clergy across the Channel Islands are using the internet in really creative ways to stream and record services and we look forward to people “joining” us on Easter Day,’ he said.
‘Please also ring or broadcast your bells from your homes, drives, gardens and balconies, at 10 am on Easter Day to celebrate this great festival.’
