A CHURCH minister has reflected on a memorable year which has seen life “change dramatically”.

The Rev Alison McDonald, minister at Haddington’s St Mary’s Parish Church, said that people had never entered Lent before “in the middle of so much upheaval and uncertainty”.

She said: “What a difference a year makes.

“Last February, no one could have imagined that six weeks later we would go into lockdown and life would change dramatically.

“Neither could anyone have anticipated that a year later we would begin February in lockdown again, without ever really returning to anything near normal in between.”

Restrictions associated with the coronavirus pandemic have meant that congregations have been unable to attend church for services.

However, members of the church, on Sidegate, have managed to set up a YouTube channel, with a pre-recorded act of worship broadcast each Sunday at 10am.

The minister was looking forward to welcoming the congregation back through the doors.

She said: “When Lent begins, it’s very unlikely that our church building will be open again.

“While we hope that we might be back for Easter, we have all learned this year that there is no point in getting our hopes up about anything too far in advance.

“If we are open then it will most likely be with restricted numbers.

“There is certainly positive news to encourage us just now as more and more people are vaccinated.”