Church leaders recommend wearing of face coverings during worship

Fr Tim Bartlett from St Mary's Church in Belfast offers a blessing to Annette Daly on John Street during Pentecost Sunday. Parishioners asked for the church to visit the local community to deliver Holy Water during the lockdown. Picture: PA

The leaders of the main churches across the island of Ireland have united to recommend the wearing of face coverings during worship.

In a joint statement, the Catholic Church, Church of Ireland, Presbyterians and Methodists said while governments on both sides of the border have not made face coverings compulsory at services, they recommend they are worn.