A Spalding bishop who regularly featured on BBC Radio Two has begun his own weekly podcast alongside streaming video masses for parishioners who are self-isolating.
Bishop Rob Gillion, of St John the Baptist Church in Hawthorn Bank, was regularly on Chris Evans’ and Terry Wogan’s shows talking on the Pause for Thought segment.
Following lockdown he’s launched his own Pause For Thought podcast which listeners can subscribe to.
Honorary assistant priest Pat Wilson has also joined him in releasing a podcast.
Bishop Gillion said: “I’m doing a sort of weekly reflection having done Pause for Thought previously on the Chris Evans and Terry Wogan shows.
“I started it just as another way of contact with parishioners and they’ve been really well received.”
The podcasts are on top of the YouTube videos St John’s and a number of other local churches are putting out to keep in touch with their congregation.
A number of local churches have also been embracing more technology since the lockdown.
They include St Norbert’s Catholic Church broadcasting masses on YouTube, while Spalding Baptist Church and The Lighthouse Church are putting regular content out, the latter with daily services.
You’re now allowed into churches for private prayer, but for now communal worship is left to YouTube.
Bishop Gillion stated: “The response we’ve had has been fantastic.
“The videos have got better and better and we’re now able to edit people in so they can do the readings and get even more people involved.
“It’s just a way for people to continue to worship and it’s been particularly well received by those who are living on their own.
“I did do a couple in the church by myself but I felt it didn’t quite work as it was just too empty and echoey.”
