Higham Ferrers vicar shares experience of ministering to flock during coronavirus lockdown

A Northamptonshire vicar has been using new ways to connect with her paishioners during the Covid-19 outbreak after all church services were cancelled.

Revd Michelle Dalliston, who was appointed as the interim vicar of Higham Ferrers with Chelveston, has been making a daily podcast for the congregations to keep in touch with a daily act of worship.

As a key worker, she has been able to get out to see parishioners at a distance to check on their well-being and deliver a service sheet through their doors.

Michelle said: "There's a lot of anxiety about where people can get food. They are anxious for themselves and anxious for their loved ones.

"In the church community we are amazingly upbeat and we have been trying to give practical care - delivering food parcels and doing everything we can.

"I'm doing all my pastoral work via email, phone calls and Whatsapp groups. I've produced a daily prayer sheet that people can get online or for those who aren't I deliver it through their doors.

"Everyone can say the prayer at the same time which brings us together."

To replace services, Michelle has been producing a five-minute daily podcast for the churches' website with a thought for the day and a prayer.

She said: "We're trying to come up with ways we can link up. We lit candles last Sunday, an idea of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishop of York.

"We shared pictures of our candles in our groups. It was a real act of solidarity, keeping the light shining. People are not alone and we are here to offer a sense of comfort.

"In a weird kind of way in this terrible situation we're finding different ways of coming together."

You can listen to Michelle's daily messages by going to the churches' website .