To mark the unveiling of our new look website, we're offering podcast listeners the chance to claim a three-month digital subscription to The Spectator absolutely free, including the magazine delivered via the app, full online access and Spectator newsletters and podcasts.

Go to Spectator.com.uk forward slash free.

Welcome. spectator.co.uk forward slash free. Welcome to Holy Smoke, the Spectator's Religion podcast. I'm Damian Thompson.

Are the churches rising to the challenge of the coronavirus?

And if not, why not?

I'm joined once again by Dr Gavin Ashton, a former chaplain to the Queen

and one of Britain's most insightful Christian commentators.

One of the extraordinary things about this pandemic is that it's the first time in the West

that people have been confronted with such a terrifying situation and not turn to Christianity as a resource in significant numbers.

And another thing that perhaps needs

saying is that it's not clear that the leadership of the churches is truly rising to this

challenge. Many Christians and other religious believers are doing wonderful things to help their

neighbours. But if you look at the official pronouncements of

the bishops, too often you're confronted by what reads like the standard health and safety advice

with just a little light dusting of spirituality. For example, the Archbishop of Canterby,

Justin Welby, put out a statement which did contain some inspiring reflections,

but began with the advice about washing your hands that we hear a hundred times a day, and doesn't

particularly gain in authority from being repeated by the leader of the Church of England.

Now, bishops have taken the difficult decision to end public worship, and I don't criticise

them for that.

It's an inevitable precaution, and it must be said that many clergy are vigorously promoting

online worship in this time of trial.

...