Coronavirus

You will know that, as a requirement of Government and with the advice of the Archbishops, all churches are now entirely closed for public worship. This is in order to demonstrate the vital importance of staying at home wherever possible and to slow the spread of disease. There are to be no Occasional Offices in church; funerals can take place at crematoria or gravesides but under most stringent conditions. The current Diocesan requirements in connection with coronavirus are available at the cofebirmingham website.

Old Church has and will be developing ways of keeping in touch during these very difficult times, thinking particularly of those who through self-isolation or otherwise will need help with shopping, medications and the like. This will be coordinated with members of the Pastoral Care Team, the Pastoral Visiting Team and others in the congregation. If you would like to receive help, please ring one of those listed below,

The Reverend Deb Buckley: 0121 558 1763/07410 176378
Jean Martin, Churchwarden: 0121 554 2731
Gill Gould, Parish Administrator: 07824 368584

There is an Old Church WhatsApp site for those who would like to share thoughts over the next months. If you would like to join the site, the easiest way would be to send a message that includes your mobile number to, Paul Martin: 07785 995489 or paulmartin@like-minds.co.uk

There are increasing numbers of ideas for prayer and for services produced by the Church of England nationally, by the Diocese and by Old Church. For ease of access, we have listed these and will continue to add to the list as the weeks pass.

Church of England website with ideas for prayers and for simple services at home.

Although we will not be able to see or hear each other – that could be for some future time, Deb invites us to join with her on Sundays, in communion through a common act of prayer and worship.

Old Church Acts of Worship for Lent.
Old Church Acts of Worship for Easter.
Old Church Acts of Worship for Lent and Easter. Prayers and Readings, references.
Old Church Acts of Worship for Lent and Easter. Prayers and Readings, complete text.
Old Church Service of the Word in Farsi/English.

For Holy Week, the week leading to the horrors of Good Friday and then the joys of Easter, Deb has produced a Service for Compline and there are a series of Reflections, one per day, written by members of the Ministry Team.

Old Church Compline for Holy Week.
Reflection for Monday of Holy Week.
Reflection for Tuesday of Holy Week.
Reflection for Wednesday of Holy Week.
Reflection for Thursday of Holy Week, Maundy Thursday.

Old Church will continue with its 10.30 Sunday morning services using Zoom for as long as is necessary. The Service of the Word together with the Readings for the 2nd Sunday of Easter, 19th April, can be accessed below. However, in order to take part in a Zoom service, you will need certain details including website address, the service identification number and password. The details change from week to week and are to ensure that we are not joined by those who wish only to disrupt. If you do not already receive these details, then look in the Old Church website, Contacts page, and send a note to Deb, asking her to include you on the e-mail list.

Readings for the 2nd Sunday of Easter

The Old Church News, Spring edition, is now available.  Please read and forward to others. Please print a copy, if you are able, and pass it to friends and neighbours.

The Old Church News, Spring 2020. 

Please do not hesitate to make contact if you feel Old Church could be of help to you at these exceedingly difficult times. Apart from anything else, it is undoubtedly a time for our prayer for others and for ourselves as the disease spreads.