CHURCH leaders in Dumbarton and the Vale have admitted they’re disappointed at being forced to close their doors due to the pandemic – but have acknowledged that it’s a necessary move.

The Scottish Government’s announcement last week of stricter limits to control the spread of Covid-19 cases included the closing of all the country’s churches for Congregational worship and prayer until further notice.

Some of the country’s religious leaders voiced their anger at the decision, questioning whether an end to socially-distant worship, in compliance with all the rules, would play a significant role in reducing the number of coronavirus cases.

The Scottish Government said in a statement: “We are well aware of how important communal worship is to people, but we believe that this restriction is necessary to reduce the risk of transmission.”

However, church leaders across Dumbarton and surrounding areas know that it’s for the good of the local community that they’ve had to close their doors.

Father Gerard Conroy, parish priest at St Patrick’s Church in Dumbarton, told the Reporter: “I can say that the congregation is extremely disappointed and not a little frustrated with events, as are most of us living through the coming and going of the virus.

“However they are aware that this is for the common good, and so are willing to support the government in its actions while hoping that the restrictions on attending church will be lifted as soon as possible.

“The churches have a good record in complying with the instructions on social distancing and face masks, as well as the other restrictions placed on normal worship, and that has borne fruit in the lack of transmission traceable to churches.

“We will continue to live stream services, as we have before, and while the technology that allows us to do this is a great boon, it cannot compare with the actual physical presence of people as we are all too well aware.”

Pastor Oli Higham of Rock Community Church in Dalreoch added: “Part of the teaching of Jesus is to care for the most vulnerable, and in this current context our role is to help wider society in limiting the spread of this virus and the new strains that are evidently more contagious.

“While ‘how’ we do things changes in this season, ‘why’ we do doesn’t.

"We just find new ways of being faithful followers of Jesus.

“This looks like moving our services online, continuing to support and care for our congregation and finding new and exciting ways to support our wider community.

“These are challenging times indeed, but we have a hope to guide us through it.”