I have just stepped back from my duties as a volunteer steward at my local church. It doesn’t sit right with me to continue helping our church to be open while the Covid pandemic is so virulent.

We have been keeping everything as compliant as possible with the requirements of sanitising and distancing; our priest has done an amazing job of organising procedures. But I sense the government is wobbly about this, in the same way that it was about schools, allowing them to open and then within 24 hours requiring them to close. Decisions appear to be taken very late. I feel we could, and perhaps should, be being more responsible than the government.

Judy Dixey
London NW5

May I offer my small Anglican support for Cardinal Nichols’ view that Sunday Masses should continue during the pandemic? I am sure that churches should be taking all sensible steps to ensure the safety of congregations and should advise the vulnerable that it may be unwise for them to adhere to the Sunday obligation. As to the arguments advanced in your columns I am unconvinced. I am a realist: the physical connection with the crucified and risen Christ matters.