The government has stressed that communal religious services must not take place in places of worship which are being allowed to reopen for private prayer from Saturday.

In guidance published on Friday, the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government said that social distancing of at least two metres must be maintained between individuals or households who come.

But it said that visitors must not be “part of a group, led prayer or communal act”.

It also recommended that places of worship should be closed to individual prayer “during the time normal services would be taking place and continue to stream this regular worship or prayer services”.

Among hygiene measures, it said books and other reusable objects should be removed from the premises, sacred artefacts should not be kissed or touched and no singing should take place.

Although it  has not capoed the number of people allowed to enter at any one time, it said faith leaders should carry out a risk assessment to ensure that social distancing can be observed and if necessary, implement a queue system.

Places of worship cannot be used for ceremonies other than funerals or used for supplementary education such “as Sunday schools, madrassas or yeshivas”.

While other religious activities may be allowed shortly, this is not expected to July 4 “at the earliest”.

Neither the United Synagogue nor the Progressive movements are planning to reopen synagogues at the present time.

The government was accused by Labour of “showing contempt” for faith communities by not giving them the support they needed.

While Labour backed reopening, many organisations did not have the resources to comply with the health and safety measures, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Faith, Janet Daby argued.

The government had  “given people an unrealistic expectation that every church, mosque, synagogue, temple and gurdwara will be open by Saturday morning,” she said.“This will not be possible and will lead to confusion and anger.”