A new walk-in Covid-19 testing centre has opened up in the hall of Christ Church, Luton in Chatham.
In just 24 hours of starting construction, the centre was set-up and ready to welcome those with symptoms who had booked an appointment.
The testing centre is being operated by the Department for Health and Social Care in partnership with security company G4S.
For the Rev Andrea Leonard, Vicar of Christ Church, Luton, and the Parochial Church Council (PCC), this was a ministry to the community that they knew they had to be involved with:
"Fifty-per cent of people in Luton do not have their own car but we were hearing of people being offered tests miles away. So when a person in Luton has symptoms, but can't get a test locally, it's a real struggle. We knew that this was something we had to do as an act of love for our community."
Christ Church is built into a hillside, which means the main worship area is on the top floor and can be accessed completely separately to the hall. It means there is no risk of cross-contamination from people coming to the church for private prayer and those coming for tests.
Andrea said that there was a lot of work that took place behind the scenes to make it happen but it is worth it:
"Without the support of teams within the Diocese and the vision of the PCC, this really would not have been possible.
"Luton is in the top 4 percental of deprivation in the country and so we know if Covid catches hold here, it could be very serious.
"Being able to play our part in the efforts being taken to curtail this virus is therefore a real privilege."
Caroline Clarke, Community Engagement and Social Action (CESA) Team Lead for the Diocese of Rochester said:
"This is yet another fantastic example of how churches across the Diocese are engaging in ways that help and offer comfort to their communities at this most difficult of times.
"Here is a church that said 'yes' to meeting a vital need in their local area, to walk alongside them and to show through their actions, the love of Christ."
Anyone requiring a test should visit the NHS website here or call 119.
If you need any advice about a community engagement project that your church would like to develop, please contact the CESA team in the following ways:
- Keith Berry - keith.berry@rochester.anglican.org - for queries relating to Community Cafés, Hubs, Places of Welcome and similar initiatives
- Caroline Clarke - caroline.clarke@rochester.anglican.org - For all other community engagement.