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Hundreds of parishioners attended two services Sunday morning at a Windsor church in defiance of ongoing COVID-19 restrictions.
With three security guards stationed at the front driveway entrance to the Harvest Bible Church in the Spring Garden area, nobody except those associated with attending service were being allowed into the church’s large parking lot. One of the guards with his phone camera video-recorded media vehicles and others not welcomed as they approached.
As parishioners filed in and out of each of the 9 and 11:15 a.m. services on Sunday, maybe one in 10 could be seen entering or exiting the church wearing a mask. Several families with children were among those in attendance.
The church’s sign out front of the property carried two messages: “Love your neighbour. Defend life and liberty” and “We will not abandon our community to isolation and despair.”
Well over 100 vehicles were parked outside for the 11:15 a.m. service, with perhaps only slightly fewer than that for the earlier service.
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Around 10:30 a.m., one Windsor police car was stationed for roughly 20 minutes on the side of the road about 50 metres away. An officer inside would not answer whether he was there to witness the actions at the church.
But a sergeant with Windsor police later confirmed the church is being monitored.
“It is definitely being investigated. A report will be forwarded and it will be handled,” said Sgt. Isidor Lulic. “No charges have yet been laid, but everything is definitely under investigation.”
A phone call to the church was not answered on Sunday afternoon, while the church’s lead pastor Aaron Rock did not respond to an email from the Star seeking comment.
Andre Lalonde, who resides across the street from the church in the 2000 block of Spring Garden Road, expressed exasperation on what took place Sunday, with an unending stream of vehicles rolling in and out of the church property despite current COVID-19 restrictions that limit indoor gatherings and in which churches are ordered to remain closed.
“My family can’t visit because of COVID and out of respect (for restrictions),” said Lalonde, who has resided in his home for 27 years, long before the church was constructed across the street.
“Is what they are doing respect?”
What was taking place Sunday at the church has for weeks “been the exact same, like clockwork, every Sunday,” with seemingly no actions by anyone to halt the proceedings, said Lalonde, who has complained to police.
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