Turriff church opens its doors online
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Although church buildings have been closed to the public since the lockdown began, for the past eight weeks St Ninian’s and Forglen Church in Turriff has been livestreaming their Sunday service, and now more people are tuning in than usually come to the church on a Sunday morning.
St Ninian’s minister, Rev Kevin Gruer said: “The lockdown happened so suddenly.
"One week, we were having a church service as usual, then a few days later all church buildings were required to close.
"Like most people, before the lockdown I had never heard of Zoom, but then my son sent me a link for his church in Edinburgh which was going to be livestreaming their service that first Sunday.
"I tuned in and thought, ‘we could do this at St Ninian’s’”.
On Palm Sunday, St Ninian’s trialled their first live service on Zoom with just over 50 people logging in.
That number has risen to over 100 each week.
Rev Gruer continued: “We have never done anything like this before, so it has been a steep learning curve and a big team effort.
"What we have tried to do is keep the service as familiar as possible, and what is proving to be just as important are the virtual breakout rooms after the service, giving people the opportunity to chat and catch up with each other.
"It is encouraging to know that so many people are finding it a real benefit.
One such person is member and regular attender Isobel Webster who commented: “Our Sunday online services have given some normality at this strange time.
"It is so good to feel we are all together in this way each week.”
However, it is not just the regular attenders at St Ninian’s who have been logging in, but also people from other churches in the north-east and further afield, as well as some who don’t usually come to church at all.
Rev Gruer said: “Understandably, the pandemic is making a lot of people think and question what life is all about, and for some to wonder about God in all this.
"And there is something safe in being able to join a church service from your own home.”
The St Ninian’s and Forglen Church service is livestreamed on Zoom at 11am every Sunday, and the service can be accessed from a link on the home page of www.stniniansandforglen.org.uk
