Rev Ian and Anne Sparks

Rev. Ian Sparks – Priest in Charge of St Mary’s Luddenden and Luddenden Foot as well as Priest in Change of St Thomas Greetland:
"I work from home a lot anyway. However it is the personal pastoral contact that has changed. Connection with people is increasingly online or via email and some telephone contact. This is not the best way especially in place visiting the sick or dealing with the bereaved. The new restrictions on funeral services mean there is an added sadness Having to stream services online is relatively easy to do on Facebook but has meant learning new skills. Up until the lockdown I thought Zoom was an ice lolly! Now it is standard practice to use Zoom for meetings or prayer and Bible Study or record a multi person All Age School item. As is the use of WhatsApp groups for support or prayer. It is especially pleasing to work with others in the local community who share a similar spirit of wanting to look after and care for the vulnerable or anyone in need."

Anne Sparks - Level 2 Information and Creative Technology Course Leader at Calderdale College:
"Since lockdown all my students are all working from home and we are supporting them daily with their learning and in any other way that we can. We are reaching a point in the year where the students would be finishing their courses and moving on to new things and they will need support to think of the future in these unpredictable times."

27.4.20