Health

A CHURCH has recommended the welcoming handshake on the door be banned for fear of the spread of swine flu.

St Giles Church, in Swakeley's Road, Ickenham, have issued a notice on their weekly newsheet to the congregation explaining that physical contact is to be avoided.

The notice states: "In order to reduce the spread of flu, we have been advised to avoid hand contact and therefore services containing the sharing of the peace will do so as a corporate verbal response.

"Additionally, handshaking on the door is to be postponed for the timebeing."

Many churches across the country, including St John's Church in Royal Lane, Hillingdon, have taken the steps not to administer wine at communion, but this is the first known case that a church has taken the steps to ban shaking hands.

Even during the Black Death in the 15th century the sharing of communion wine was not stopped in England, so the recommendation that the practice be suspended is unprecedented.

A spokesperson for the Diocese of London said: "Guidelines have been sent out to all churches based on NHS advice.

"They have left individual clergy to interpret them in their own way, there are no central rules.

"It seems in this case the church are taking their own steps to minimise any threat to the congregation.

"St Giles have explained to us that the advice is for the welcomers discretion, it is merely so they feel comfortable in the present environment, as they come into contact with such a great number of people."