Couples forced into self-isolation through coronavirus could be sent online marriage courses to help them through spending more time together, MPs were told today.
The potential move was revealed as the Commons debated how to support families through the Covid-19 pandemic.
Tory MP Scott Benton asked how the church “aims to support couples and families in this moment of national crisis when they are forced to spend more time together, probably feeling anxious and possibly with several members of their family unwell”.
Conservative MP Andrew Selous, speaking for the Church of England in Parliament, said: "The new marriage and pre-marriage courses released in January this year are now available online.
“They are digital resources so any church can forward to couples in isolation to help them invest in their relationship when they are likely to have more time together, as well as more pressure on them.
“The pre-marriage course welcomes and is suitable for couples who are not engaged but want to explore what marriage means.”
Meanwhile, families have been urged to light a candle and place it in a window on Sunday to show solidarity with other households during the coronavirus crisis.
The Archbishop of Canterbury will lead an online service for Mothering Sunday as Covid-19 hammers traditional worship.
Prayers, hymns and a short sermon will be broadcast over the web by the Church of England and on 39 local BBC radio stations.
The move comes after Sunday and daily services were axed while the country battles the outbreak.
Archbishop Justin Welby will lead by example when he takes the web service this weekend.
He will say in his sermon: “In all of the current troubles, and they are very serious troubles, looking inwards will only reveal the limits of our own resources, and lead to deeper fear and selfishness.
“Acting in love found from God in Jesus Christ will do the exact reverse.
"As we look out from ourselves in love, we can enable people to find the place of their nurture, not their historic place but a new place where they meet God and find his consolation.
“As we share our consolation the mother love of God will enfold them.
“As we love the poor, go and give to a foodbank, call on someone who is isolated, do their shopping, pray with and for them, from a distance, we will find that we are deeply consoled by our own gift of consolation.”
The service will be broadcast on BBC local radio stations from 8am on Sunday and be online at 9am.
Tory Steve Double said churches still had an “absolutely vital role to play in our communities in meeting the spiritual, emotional and practical needs of our communities at this very difficult time”.
Mr Selous told the Commons: “At 7pm on Sunday the Archbishop has called for people to put lighted candles in their windows just as a sign of solidarity with what the nation is going through at the moment.”
The MP insisted the church “is much more than just its buildings – it's its people".
“This is an opportunity for all of us as Christians to reach out to those in need," he said.
“While public worship has been suspended for the time being, churches remain open for prayer and in particular for baptisms, weddings and funerals.
“Self-distancing will be required, numbers in churches will be kept to a minimum and no-one self-isolating must attend a ceremony.
“Parishes are being trained in live-streaming services where they can.”
