{ "format" : "linked-data-api", "version" : "0.2", "result" : {"_about" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?answeringDeptShortName=Church+Commissioners&max-dateTabled=2020-05-04", "definition" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/meta/answeredquestions.text?answeringDeptShortName=Church+Commissioners&max-dateTabled=2020-05-04", "extendedMetadataVersion" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?answeringDeptShortName=Church+Commissioners&max-dateTabled=2020-05-04&_metadata=all", "first" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?answeringDeptShortName=Church+Commissioners&_page=0&max-dateTabled=2020-05-04", "hasPart" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?answeringDeptShortName=Church+Commissioners&max-dateTabled=2020-05-04", "isPartOf" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?answeringDeptShortName=Church+Commissioners&max-dateTabled=2020-05-04", "items" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1192783", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Church Commissioners"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1192783/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The House of Bishops revised their guidance on access to churches on the 5th May 2020. Government guidance states that \u2018a minister of religion or worship leader may leave their home to travel to their place of worship\u2019. In most cases, they will do so in order to pray or to stream a service of worship. If clergy wish to mark VE Day by ringing a church bell or flying a flag from their church buildings, that is within government guidance. This advice does not extend to bell-ringers, sextons or other church officers or volunteers.<\/p> The parish church would usually be central to local commemorations of events such as Victory in Europe Day, but for this anniversary they will be honouring the sacrifice of all those who were involved in World War Two in a new way. Archbishops, Bishops and clergy will be participating in local and national virtual services to mark VE Day. The Church of England has released national resources for worship and prayer which can be used by local communities: https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/worship-texts-and-resources/worship-resources-ve-day-2020<\/a><\/p> Additional resources have been released by Westminster Abbey to help churches shape their services over the anniversary weekend which can be found here: Service of Thanksgiving to mark the 70th Anniversary of VE Day<\/a><\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1453", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrew Selous"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Right Hon. Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps the Church of England is taking to fly Union Flags on its churches for the 75th Anniversary of VE Day.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4751", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chris Loder"}
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, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1192320", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Church Commissioners"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1192320/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " It is essential that when church buildings reopen for public worship or private prayer by members of the public, that it is done safely. In the meantime, churches across the country are holding virtual services and offering support to the vulnerable and elderly. Where they are unable to do this locally national resources are available such as the national church service on a Sunday and the Daily Hope phone line.<\/p> <\/p> The Church is adapting and rising to the challenge of supporting their community physically and spiritually during this medical emergency. The Church is regularly reviewing the medical advice and is in regular conversation with the Government. What is needed is a wide range of detailed protocols and practices to be established to ensure that church buildings and services do not represent risks for renewed transmission of the virus.<\/p> <\/p> The Church of England is currently preparing for the reopening of church buildings, but it must be recognised that not all churches and clergy may be able to satisfy all the necessary criteria, especially in the early stages of the recovery phase. This has been the experience in other jurisdictions such as Germany where the Government has advised that churches can be reopened for public worship.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1453", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrew Selous"}
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, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-05-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Churches: Coronavirus"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the right hon. Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, when churches will be re-opened for worshippers.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4866", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alexander Stafford"}
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, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Alexander Stafford"}
], "uin" : "42227"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1192321", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Church Commissioners"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1192321/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Following the address to the nation made by the Prime Minister on the 23rd<\/sup> March, the Church of England took the difficult decision that it would ask this clergy to close their parish churches to the public due to the unprecedented high risk of transmission of the covid-19 virus. While the church buildings and halls were shut, their congregations have continued, where possible, to live out their vocation and mission to serve the needs of their local communities during the lockdown period.<\/p> <\/p> The Government listed the clergy as key workers during the medical emergency, and it has enabled them to continue to meet the needs of their communities right across the country, serving as chaplains, officiating at funerals, administering last rites, operating food banks and other essential community services.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1453", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrew Selous"}
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, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-05-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the right hon. Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, for what reasons churches and other places of worship were not listed as essential services in the covid-19 lockdown guidance.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4866", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alexander Stafford"}
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, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Alexander Stafford"}
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, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1186409", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Church Commissioners"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1186409/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Church recognises the need to adapt to the move away from cash towards contactless payments. A large and fast-evolving range of contactless solutions is available through the Church\u2019s own Parish Buying service, with over 1,900 churches now having the means to accept payments or donations by card or mobile phone. The Church aims to have over half of its 16,000 churches able to take contactless payments and donations in the next three years.<\/p>
The new guidance can be read here: https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/news/house-bishops-backs-phased-approach-revising-access-church-buildings<\/a><\/p>