AN OXFORD church has held its first proper service since lockdown began.

Greyfriars Church on Iffley Road held its first public service yesterday when mass was celebrated at 6.30pm by Brother Charles Serignat.

The church - proper name St Edmund and St Frideswide - reopened two weeks ago for private prayer with a rota of parishioners acting as stewards and the message spray-painted on the pavement outside saying 'Stay close to God - but keep 2 metres apart'.

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The church, which has been live-streaming services throughout lockdown, has been busy with people dropping in, though there are some changes, such as hand sanitiser instead of holy water.

Oxford Mail:

Parish priest, Br Paul Coleman, was applauded by the congregation at the end of the first post-lockdown mass when he said, 'It's good to have you back - it's been a long time.'

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