Church leaders in England have welcomed that public worship may continue even as a new lockdown has been announced by the Government.

Prime Minister, Boris Johnson said everyone in England must stay at home except for permitted reasons during a new coronavirus lockdown expected to last until mid-February.

All schools and colleges will close to most pupils and switch to remote learning from Tuesday.

Communal worship and life events like funerals and weddings can continue, however, subject to limits on attendance.

The Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Cardinal Nichols welcomed the exemption for religious worship.

“The regular practice of our faith in God is a source of personal resilience & dedicated service of those in need, both vital in these difficult times. I am glad no measures have been introduced to obstruct or curtail this essential source of energy for the common good,” he said on social media.