ANGLICAN churches across the Hunter will be physically closed to parishioners on Sunday and services will remain closed to the public until further notice in an unprecedented move in response to the coronavirus threat.
The families of recently deceased are already being advised to restrict funeral services to family only.
But "while we're physically distancing, we're not socially isolating people", said prominent Newcastle Anglican diocese priest Father Rod Bower, at Gosford parish, who said churches and their congregations had a pivotal role to play in coming months.
"We need to start delivering food to shut-ins and we'll be breaking up our parish role among lay leaders who will contact each parishioner isolated at home at least once a week to ensure people are okay," Father Bower said.
The decision to close church services to the public from Sunday was sobering, but the church needed to show leadership to protect the most vulnerable in society from the virus, he said.
"We need to be modelling to the wider community what best practice is in terms of the health advice we're receiving. We need to be showing clear leadership."
The decision to recommend that funerals be restricted to family only, "as sad and distressing as that is", was also necessary to protect vulnerable community members as coronavirus cases increase through the community, Father Bower said.
"We don't want to head down the path of Italy (where the whole country is in a form of lockdown because of the coronavirus spread) but we're heading part way down that path and it's everyone's responsibility to stop the virus spreading," he said.
Anglican bishops across the state, including Newcastle Bishop Peter Stuart, issued a joint media statement announcing the unprecedented suspension of church services after Prime Minister Scott Morrison banned enclosed gatherings of more than 100 people, with the likelihood of further ban orders on Friday relating to gatherings including weddings and funerals.
"In light of the Prime Minister's announcement, banning enclosed gatherings in excess of 100 people, and in order to express Christ's concern for all people, especially the elderly and vulnerable, we have decided that the Anglican Church in NSW and the ACT should suspend all public church gatherings until further notice," the bishops' statement said.
The dioceses with the largest Sunday church services, in Sydney, Newcastle and Canberra & Goulburn, will suspend services from Sunday until further notice. The suspension includes this Sunday's services.
"We are encouraging all our churches to consider providing their services online or by other communication methods. Where this is not possible our dioceses will ensure that online services and other resources are made widely available," the bishops said.
"We shall make every effort to care for our church communities and the wider public, especially those who are isolated and vulnerable. Across NSW and the ACT our welfare agencies will also continue their vital work of showing Christ's love in ministering to all people, especially older Australians."
The bishops called on all Christians to pray for health workers, those seeking to develop a vaccine, and for the spread of the disease to slow.
Father Bower said he would be celebrating mass on Sunday with a colleague and it would be online but the church door would be closed and parishioners would not be allowed to enter.
"It is confronting but the message outside the church is clear. The church is closed but our hearts are still open. The buildings are closed but churches and their congregations have a really pivotal role to play in keeping society running through these difficult months," he said.
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