On Thursday 18 June the Scottish Government announced the beginning of Phase 2 of its programme for easing lock-down restrictions. Of immediate interest at Pluscarden was the announcement that, from Monday 22 June, Churches can be opened for private prayer. Unfortunately the implementation of this welcome relaxation is not so simple. Some larger Churches will be able to comply with the required norms for opening; other smaller ones will not. At least for the present, Pluscarden Abbey is not able to satisfy the specified requirements. So for the time being, with much regret, the doors of our Abbey Church must remain closed to the public: even for a few moments of quiet prayer.

We continue to pray daily that people will soon be able to return to worship with us in freedom. Our Fr. Abbot remains, incidentally, at Minster Abbey in Kent, where he has been stranded since the national lock-down began. He is of course most anxious to return, but needs to do so both safely and legally. Just now that still does not seem to be possible.

People often enquire about the health of the community. Some of our brethren certainly have health issues of their own, but thank God none of us has contracted the Covid-19 virus. All this time the full round of our daily life has continued on uninterrupted, with all services still sung in full, and nothing essential has been lacking for us. The peace of Pluscarden has certainly intensified in the absence of visitors. In the warm sunshine our grounds have seemed all the more like a reflection of paradise. Our prayer though continues on for an end to the pandemic, and to the lock-down, and for who are suffering from their consequences.