LONDON - Prominent UK church leaders have branded the mass closure of churches 'unlawful and unnecessary' as they threatened a judicial review into keeping them shut.
A coalition of Christian bishops and reverends has urged the Government to prioritise churches in its exit strategy from the coronavirus lockdown.
They said it was unfair for churches to be in the 'bottom category of the most dangerous and least important services' with beauty salons, pubs and cinemas.
The letter signed by 25 prominent church leaders - but not endorsed by the Church of England - is a pre-action legal warning against Health Secretary Matt Hancock.
However social media users have warned churches would be 'risking the lives of congregations' and some Christians said they are not ready to go back just yet.
And the National Secular Society told MailOnline today that religious activities should not be 'privileged or prioritised over and above those of a secular nature'.
It comes after France's Supreme Court last week ruled that the country's ban on religious gatherings was illegal and ordered its government to relax restrictions.
All places of worship in Britain have been closed since mass gatherings were banned by the Government on March 16 - and they are not expected to reopen before July 4.
But churches in Northern Ireland have now reopened for private prayer - albeit with strict social distancing rules and hand sanitiser dispensers in place.(FA)