THE North of Ireland’s main church denominations are to cease public worship until early February.
Church leaders have say they recognise the very serious position Northern Ireland is in due to Covid-19.
In-person gatherings for worship, along with most other church gatherings, are set to cease from midnight on Thursday until Saturday 6 February.
The Catholic Church, Church of Ireland and Presbyterian Churches have all issued statements confirming the move.
It is understood the Methodist Church is also halting public services.
Weddings and funerals will continue, as will some baptisms, drive-in services and private prayer.
It comes after a further 17 coronavirus-related deaths were reported on Thursday in Northern Ireland, bringing the Department of Health’s death toll to 1,417.
Earlier, Stormont’s junior ministers met faith leaders to discuss moving all religious ceremonies online in a bid to curb rising Covid-19 infections.
The Rector of St Augustine’s, Rev Nigel Cairns (right), welcomes Bishop Andrew Forster to his parish’s first ever ‘Drive-in Service’ in Bishop Street car park
First Minister Arlene Foster said she was hoping for a “voluntary agreement”.
“The last thing that I want to have to do is to put regulations in against faith and against worship,” she said.
In Derry, some services went outdoors as churches held drive in Sunday meetings of their congregation.
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