Cardinal Nichols and Archbishop Welby pray together on first day of church opening

16 June 2020 • Persistent link: iarccum.org/?p=3619

Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Archbishop Justin Welby praying at Westminster Cathedral on the first day of re-opening after COVID-19 shutdown
Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Archbishop Justin Welby praying at Westminster Cathedral on the first day of re-opening after COVID-19 shutdown (15 June 2020). Photo: Mazur/CBCEW.org.uk
Cardinal Vincent Nichols welcomes Archbishop Justin Welby to Westminster Cathedral on the first day of re-opening after the COVID-19 shutdown
Cardinal Vincent Nichols welcomes Archbishop Justin Welby to Westminster Cathedral on the first day of re-opening after the COVID-19 shutdown (15 June 2020). Photo: Mazur/CBCEW.org.uk
Archbishop Justin Welby and Cardinal Vincent Nichols pray at the Shrine of St Edward the Confessor in Westminster Abbey on the first day of re-opening after the COVID-19 shutdown
Archbishop Justin Welby and Cardinal Vincent Nichols pray at the Shrine of St Edward the Confessor in Westminster Abbey on the first day of re-opening after the COVID-19 shutdown (15 June 2020). Photo: Mazur/CBCEW.org.uk
Archbishop Justin Welby and Cardinal Vincent Nichols entering Westminster Abbey on the first day of re-opening after the COVID-19 shutdown
Archbishop Justin Welby and Cardinal Vincent Nichols entering Westminster Abbey on the first day of re-opening after the COVID-19 shutdown (15 June 2020). Photo: Mazur/CBCEW.org.uk
Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Archbishop Justin Welby praying at Westminster Cathedral on the first day of re-opening after COVID-19 shutdown
Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Archbishop Justin Welby praying at Westminster Cathedral on the first day of re-opening after COVID-19 shutdown (15 June 2020). Photo: Mazur/CBCEW.org.uk
Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Archbishop Justin Welby walking from Westminster Cathedral to Westminster Abbey
Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Archbishop Justin Welby walking from Westminster Cathedral to Westminster Abbey (15 June 2020). Photo: Mazur/CBCEW.org.uk
Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Archbishop Justin Welby praying at Westminster Cathedral on the first day of re-opening after COVID-19 shutdown
Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Archbishop Justin Welby praying at Westminster Cathedral on the first day of re-opening after COVID-19 shutdown (15 June 2020). Photo: Mazur/CBCEW.org.uk
Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Archbishop Justin Welby walk down the aisle of Westminster Cathedral
Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Archbishop Justin Welby walk down the aisle of Westminster Cathedral (15 June 2020). Photo: Mazur/CBCEW.org.uk
Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Archbishop Justin Welby walk down the aisle of Westminster Cathedral
Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Archbishop Justin Welby walk down the aisle of Westminster Cathedral (15 June 2020). Photo: Mazur/CBCEW.org.uk
Diocese of Westminster

On Monday 15th June, to mark the reopening of churches for individual prayer, Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby prayed together in Westminster Cathedral and Abbey to mark this ‘moment of grace,’ as the Cardinal said in his homily for Corpus Christi.

As the West Doors opened for the first time in nearly three months, they were greeted by Acting Administrator Fr Daniel Humphreys and Precentor Fr Andrew Gallagher.

Proceeding into the sacred space, they knelt in socially-distant prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.

Leaving the Cathedral, they walked across Victoria Street to Westminster Abbey.

Arriving at the Abbey, they were greeted by the Dean of Westminster Dr David Hoyle, who took them to the Shrine of St Edward the Confessor where they prayed in silence.

Praying together was a visual reminder of the importance of prayer in churches and to emphasise the significance of this day.

A steady stream of visitors came throughout the day to the Cathedral, which had been transformed by a number measures to maintain hygiene and social distancing. There was a prayerful atmosphere and a feeling of joy and relief to be praying once again before the Blessed Sacrament in the Cathedral.

Additional photos are available in our Photo Gallery and in the CBCEW Flickr account.