Both the current and former Archbishops of Canterbury have expressed regret that churches were locked shut during the first UK lockdown.

The Church took the decision after the Government banned public gatherings of two or more people.

In Ireland at the time, while the Government didn’t close churches, many dioceses outside of Dublin ordered them shut.

Justin Welby told the Financial Times he didn’t push hard enough to keep churches available, at least for individual prayer.

He had also ordered clergy not to go in to them, even for private prayer or to conduct online services.

He now admits he made a mistake, saying he was too risk-averse.

Separately, the retired Archbishop, Rowan Williams, said there was a stronger case than he recognised at the time for keeping churches open for private prayer, simply because people value the sheer space.