CHURCHES RE-OPENING

April 2021

Churches across the borough hosted their first big service of the year for Easter - and it was a special time for a Barnsley vicar who retired in the summer.

Maureen Browell, a vicar at four churches in Barnsley, has been serving in the borough since 2012 after she was ordained in 2005 - but the Easter service was her last. She hosted four services, all on a Sunday, in Dodworth, Cawthorne, Silkstone and Hoylandswaine, though she says she’s happy that her day is finally busy.

She said: “It’s been a difficult time during lockdown but it’s been even more difficult for people who haven’t been coming into church and have been at home for the best part of the year.

“There’s nothing that can replicate meeting together and that’s what people have been missing so much.

“I’m doing a service at all four churches across the day and it’s going to be busy, but it’s the most important day of the Christian year so it’s good that we’re busy.

“We’ll be singing hymns outside as well so it’s going to be great because people haven’t seen each other for so long - to see each other face-to-face and to build up their confidence to come back is key.”