You may have heard about the Government announcement today. It lightens COVID restrictions in certain parts of East Lancashire but introduces tighter restrictions in a number of wards in Pendle and Blackburn with Darwen council areas. The parishes of Blackburn with Darwen in the impacted wards are as follows:

• Blackburn Cathedral
• St Stephen’s Little Harwood
• St James’s, Blackburn
• St Silas, Blackburn
• St Gabriel’s, Blackburn
• Christ Church with St Matthew, Blackburn
• St Luke’s and St Philip’s, Blackburn
• St Michael and All Angels with St John and Holy Trinity, Blackburn
• St Jude with St Thomas, Blackburn

St. Oswald’s parish is therefore not affected although neighbouring St. Jude’s is. Please note the following important points which apply to the above parishes only:

• There is no requirement to close churches or cease public worship. We will keep you updated immediately should this change. However currently the restrictions are around social engagements, a category that obviously does not include the worship of the Church.

• The number who may attend ‘life events’ (baptisms, weddings and funerals) has now been reduced to 20 in these parishes. This takes effect from Midnight on Saturday evening. 

The situation remains serious in certain parts of the communities we serve in East Lancashire.

We pray that these new measures are properly observed and bring infection rates under control.