Angry worshippers have slammed police after their church service was shut down for breaking strict Welsh coronavirus rules.
June Russell, 81, said she felt suicidal when church services were cancelled during lockdown, adding that she cried herself to sleep in her one-bedroom flat the night police stormed New Hope Community Church’s evening prayer.
A South Wales Police officer shone torches through the window of the church in Llanrumney, Cardiff, on Sunday night – before asking the pastor, Reverend Wade McLennan, if there was a disco taking place.
Another member of the 36-strong congregation told police ‘you’ll be asking us not to believe next’, while another said: ‘I cannot believe they are making church illegal. This is not communist China.’
The 36-strong congregation were all taking part in a service led by the church pastor, Reverend Wade McLennan (pictured)
‘It is incredible to be told that it is illegal to come and worship our God,’ said Pastor McLennan.
He said the congregation was ‘deeply saddened and upset’ after their service was dramatically halted – something he said ‘crossed a line’.
‘We are told that it is illegal to sing and it is only Christians who sing during religious services.
‘When the government says to me that I cannot worship my God at church, they have crossed a line. The freedom to worship is not given by government, but by God.
‘We have been running Covid-compliant church services and care deeply about everybody’s wellbeing.
‘But the government does not understand how important spiritual well-being is to people’s lives. That is what the church does, it provides for people’s material, emotional and spiritual needs in times of personal and collective crisis.
South Wales Police asked if there was a disco taking place after shining torchlights through the window of New Hope Community Church (pictured) in Llanrumney, Cardiff, on Sunday night
‘The government must not prohibit church services any longer and I feel sorry for the police who are having to enforce these regulations.’
South Wales Police revealed the force was called by concerned members of the public.
Police officers arrived in a van, flashed torches into the building and knocked on windows, according to a statement on behalf of the church from Christian Concern, an advocacy group.
Pastor McLennan said he let officers in before the end of the service. He claimed they ‘appeared visibly uncomfortable’ when they realised they were breaking up a church service, but still asked worshippers to leave the premises.
Worshipper Ms Russell said the church was her only outlet and she was so angry she could not sleep that night.
Churchgoers filled the packed hall despite ‘firebreak’ rules banning gatherings including religious ceremonies from taking place
‘I have to admit that during this pandemic I have contemplated suicide as I was in lockdown for 18 weeks,’ she said.
‘My TV was my only connection to the outside world. My church is the only thing I enjoy, and I go three times a week. When the police came last night, I was so angry and upset, I could not sleep.
‘I cannot meet anyone online and a phone call is not the same as meeting in person. The Welsh Government has gone too far.’
Christian Concern said government-imposed closures were ‘unprecedented in the UK’, and that churches should be used as places of refuge, prayer and worship during times of crisis. They have been closed since Wales went into a ‘fire-break lockdown’ at 6pm on Friday, October 23.
New Hope Community Church, which has a congregation of 150 people, normally holds three services every Sunday, something it said provided for ‘the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the congregation and local community’.
The church said it even checked each worshipper’s temperature before they entered the building.
Naomi Mclennan filmed the moment officers entered the New Hope Community Church in Llanrumney, Cardiff, and told people they had to leave
Naomi Mclennan filmed the moment officers told people they had to leave.
In the footage, Ms Mclennan says: ‘We are at church right now and the police just showed up.
‘They have knocked on all the windows and the doors, they shined flashlights, so please pray for us right now.
‘I’m just letting you know this is happening. This is in Cardiff. We are not even in a third world country right now, this is in Cardiff.’
The video shows a police officer telling the congregation members of the public had told them about the alleged breach of coronavirus regulations.
One church member says: ‘This is really strange and, I say it respectfully, we love you guys as police officers and we are not law-breaking people.
‘But when they say to us that it is illegal to come and worship our God, this is the West, this isn’t a nation somewhere far off somewhere else.’
The officer tells church-goers they should worship at home for the next 17 days until the firebreak ‘blows over’.
Another person in the footage says: ‘You will be asking us not to believe next.’
But the officer replies: ‘As a Christian myself, I am not going to do that. I have a Christian family. My own mother is finding other ways to pray.’
Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, which is supporting the church, said banning church services was ‘cruel’.
The video shows a police officer telling the congregation members of the public had told them about the alleged breach of coronavirus regulations
She added: ‘This church has provided the safe place, and the family space, for many who otherwise have nothing. To forbid gathering in this circumstance is cruel to the most vulnerable in the community.
‘We are supporting a separate group of church leaders who are challenging the lawfulness of this restriction.
‘Pastor McLennan and the members of New Hope Community Church are also, according to their consciences, challenging the lawfulness of this worship ban by seeking to obey God in the best way they can in their circumstances rather than man.’
A spokesperson for South Wales Police said: ‘Police attended New Hope Community Church in Ball Road, Llanrumney, on Sunday afternoon, following a report of a COVID-19 breach.
‘Officers followed the policing style which we have adopted throughout the pandemic of explaining the rules and encouraging people to comply.
‘Officers moved outside the church to allow five minutes of prayer after which all those present left.
‘No fixed penalty notices were issued. We know civil restrictions are frustrating and disheartening for people, but by following them, we can all play a part in protecting our communities and the National Health Service.
‘Please take time to understand the latest regulations, all of which can be found on the Welsh Government website.’