“WE are not stopping church, we are not closing anything, we are saying - church is changing”, that’s the message of the Bishop of Salisbury amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The Rt Rev Nicholas Holtam has written to clergy and churches in the Diocese in light of the latest guidance that all public worship should be suspended.

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York are calling for church of England churches to put public worship on hold and become a ‘different sort of church’ in the coming months to face the challenge of coronavirus.

Bishop Nicholas said: “The headlines is that public worship will have to stop for the time being.”

“Our usual pattern of Sunday services and other midweek gatherings must be put on hold. This is with immediate effect.

“Our Churches will remain open for prayer.”

He continued: “Buildings can stay open. We are not stopping church, we are not closing anything, we are saying - church is changing.”

Weddings and funerals can go ahead where it is possible to observe social distancing of 2m based on common sense applied locally in buildings that are usually capable of accommodating this.

Bishop Nicholas also encouraged everyone to join in the National Day of Prayer on Sunday and place a lighted candle in their window.

“It is Mothering Sunday, so a good day to give thanks for the source of our life and care of one another. Resources are being made available for people to use at home.

"Wherever you are this Sunday please do join in this day of prayer and action and remember specially those who are sick or anxious and all involved in our Health Service.

"As one action we are calling on everyone to place a lighted candle in their window at 7.00 pm, if it is safe to do so, as a sign of solidarity and hope in the light of Christ that can never be extinguished."

The Reverend Philip Ringer, Chairman of Churches Together in Bridport, said: “'I am inviting people of all faiths and none to join me in silent prayer at 9.00pm each evening until the crisis ends by lighting a candle in their windows. We will continue to do this for a while each night until the crisis is over, and we can return to public worship. We are naturally concerned for everyone and our prayers are for those who feel particularly isolated, are affected by the virus and all those who work sacrificially in the NHS.”