Lockdown Easter Sunday: Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby delivers digital service from his kitchen as churches across globe are shut on holy day
- The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby instead recorded his Easter service on his iPad at his London flat
- He normally presides over a congregation of 1,500 people at Canterbury Cathedral on Easter morning
- Pope Francis is set to deliver his traditional Easter Sunday mass via live stream from the Vatican
- Learn more about how to help people impacted by COVID
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Christians around the world are preparing to celebrate their first virtual Easter as the world tackles coronavirus outbreak.
The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby – who normally presides over a congregation of 1,500 people at Canterbury Cathedral on Easter morning – instead recorded his service on his iPad at his London flat.
He set up a makeshift altar on his dining table and was joined ‘virtually’ by bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkins and a 10-year-old parishioner named Theo from the diocese of Canterbury.
He opened his service by saying: ‘Welcome to the kitchen of our home on Easter Day.
‘At this very difficult time in the life of the nation and of the world, our prayers today are especially with those who are suffering, with those who care for them, and for all who mourn.’
The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby – who normally presides over a congregation of 1,500 people at Canterbury Cathedral on Easter morning – instead recorded his service on his iPad at his London flat
He set up a makeshift altar on his dining table and was joined ‘virtually’ by bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkins and a 10-year-old parishioner named Theo from the diocese of Canterbury
St Paul’s Cathedral was eerily deserted after churches up and down the country were shut to control the spread of coronavirus
St Paul’s cathedral was one of thousands of places of worship across the globe that have been shut to protect people from the spread of coronavirus
A sign outside the closed St Paul’s Cathedral read: ‘For public safety the cathedral has closed. The cathedral ministers are continuing worship and prayer on behalf of all’
The Archbishop is not the only worshipper forced to improvise with Pope Francis set to deliver his traditional Easter Sunday mass via live stream from The Vatican.
The 83-year-old pontiff will break with centuries of tradition to ensure the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics can still celebrate the holiday.
Churches across Britain have been ordered to close their doors throughout the religious festival with even clergymen urged not to film services there.
The UK yesterday recorded 917 coronavirus-related deaths today, bringing the national death toll to 9,875.
Pope Francis is to deliver his traditional Easter Sunday mass via live stream from The Vatican in Italy, the European epicentre of the outbreak. Pictured: The Pope leading the Easter Vigil in the Holy Night of Easter early this morning
Believers wearing protective coronavirus face masks attend an Easter service at the Archangel Michael Church in the city of Navahrudak
Franciscan friars wore face masks as they entered the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to participate in the Easter Sunday service in Jerusalem’s Old City
Franciscan friar can be seen wearing a mask outside the entrance to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem’s Old City
A woman wears a face mask outside a service at The Holy Redeemer Church in Bangkok, Thailand
Many across the Church of England have become enraged by the ban on clergymen as they go further than the government advice.
The government had made provisions for such activities, so people belonging to churches up and down the country were still able to attend virtual services.
Those defying the rules set out by Mr Welby claimed they were being threatened with disciplinary measures.
One vicar said ‘it was time to revolt’ and another claimed they had ‘been going to church since lockdown’.
The Queen yesterday called for ‘light and life’ to overcome despair amid the coronavirus crisis as she declared that Easter is ‘not cancelled’ in a special Bank Holiday message.
Her Majesty has delivered what is believed to be her first Easter address, which had the resolute message: ‘We know that coronavirus will not overcome us’. Pictured: A grab from the video posted on the Royal Family’s social media page
Pope Francis lead the Easter vigil Mass in St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican last night with no public participation due to the outbreak of the coronavirus
The pope led yesterdsay’s ceremony surrounded by few others in the huge church as it was held behind closed doors due to the coronavirus
Her Majesty has delivered her first Easter audio address, which had the resolute message: ‘As dark as death can be – particularly for those suffering with grief – light and life are greater. May the living flame of the Easter hope be a steady guide as we face the future.’
The 93-year-old monarch’s pre-recorded speech offered support to those marking Easter privately and the wider country, and she said: ‘But Easter isn’t cancelled; indeed, we need Easter as much as ever.’
It ended on a positive note: ‘May the living flame of the Easter hope be a steady guide as we face the future.’
Marking another break with tradition, the Pope celebrated the Holy Saturday Vigil for Easter behind closed doors at St Peter’s Basilica as Italy’s coronavirus death toll rose by to 619 to 19,468.
Francis led the Easter vigil Mass in the huge Vatican church without the rank-and-file as part of Covid-19 containment measures.