How churches across Harborough are helping thousands of people in the community during the coronavirus

The Church of England is launching a high-powered mission to support thousands of people across Harborough during the coronavirus crisis.

Harborough Anglican Team is taking urgent action to help the elderly and vulnerable, especially, as the country faces its biggest test since the Second World War.

Clergymen and women based at St Dionysius Church in Market Harborough as well as in Little Bowden, Great Bowden and Lubenham are now uniting to tackle the threat.

The Rev Barry Hill, an Anglican team leader in Harborough, told the Harborough Mail: “This is a big challenge – it’s arguably unprecedented in the UK in peacetime.

“It will be hard and it will be painful.

“But we will come through it and we could emerge even stronger and even more united.”

He added: “The critical thing is that we all come together to help each other during this coronavirus crisis.

“We are calling on members of our own congregations as well as everyone else to look out for their loved ones, their neighbours and anyone else who may be at risk.”

Kickstarting the campaign, Barry said his team handed out 10 copies each of a ‘Can we help?’ leaflet to worshippers at services on Sunday March 15.

“We are encouraging people to post these through the doors of 10 neighbours or others we know in need.

“They offer (as long as we are well and not self-isolating) to help with collecting shopping, prescriptions and posting mail for those that are self-isolating,” he said.

“They also offer a friendly phone call for those that might be alone or anxious.

“A lot of older people will have partners or relatives they can rely on.

“But many won’t and we need to make sure that no one is left to get through this extremely tough situation on their own.”

Barry said they are also establishing which of their 650-strong Harborough congregation are willing and able to join a new volunteer bank.

“That’s so we can respond as best we can as we start to receive requests from community partners planning for large scale self-isolation and closures.

“This is the Christian ethos at its practical best – in action, helping the people of Market Harborough and beyond day in day out,” said the Rev Hill.

“My family has dropped our ‘Can we help?’ leaflet through the letterboxes of homes in our street in Little Bowden.

“God gives us a lot more capacity to help each other than we think.

“We are encouraging our members to call on people aged over 70, particularly, who may be forced to self-isolate or who are struggling.

“The coronavirus is obviously serious.

“But we all have to make sure that we are sensible and proportionate.

“The important thing is not to panic.

“Hoarding and panicking are contagious – but love and kindness are contagious too.

“We all have to work together and stick together to beat this.

“We are blessed with some great community groups and charities like VASL and the Market Harborough and Bowdens charity here.

“The people of Harborough are sensible – and look after their neighbours.

“I am sure that we will all rise to the growing challenges we will face over the next few weeks and months.”

Barry said they are continuing to stage regular weekly church services.

But he stressed they will also be providing special video-linked services for worshippers self-isolating at home.

“We are also supporting those in our wider community looking for spiritual support or asking questions around fear and anxiety, hope and meaning, life and death.

“We are strongly discouraging anyone showing any symptoms coming to services,” said Barry.

“We are encouraging regular handwashing, no longer shaking hands or sharing a common cup at communion or passing a collection plate, suspending refreshments when we meet and making alcohol-based hand-sanitiser available at services and events.

“We are also implementing increased requirements on hygiene and staying in contact with those who are self-isolating or have other additional needs.”

Summing up the Harborough Anglican Team’s quickfire response to the coronavirus, Barry said: “We are reminded God has given us the gift of hope not fear and of serving others and not serving ourselves.

“Churches are here for all people in all the seasons of life, hope fully reflecting the life, love and meaning that God offers us.

“Working closely with community partners, we are looking to play our part in serving all, especially those most at risk.”

To find out more and to stay in touch with Harborough Anglican Team, visit their dedicated coronavirus website: www.harborough-anglican.org.uk/coronavirus-information