The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, has lead a national church service from the front room of his home this Sunday as Christians adapt to restrictions to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

This week's Church of England virtual service was recorded on an iPad in the drawing room of Bishopthorpe Palace.

It opened with a traditional Ugandan call to prayer, which Dr Sentamu delivered on drums, as well as Taizé chants and a range of modern and traditional worship music.

Worships songs included in the service were: Cornerstone, The Cross Stands, My Song is Love Unknown and It is a Thing Most Wonderful, sung by members of the choir of St Martin-in-the-Fields in London - some of which were also recorded in their own homes this week.

The service went live on the Church of England's Facebook page at 9am on Sunday but was available on playback immediately afterwards, with the order of service, copy of the Archbishop's reflections and audio of the service available to download. 

The Archbishop offered short reflections on passages from Ezekiel and the Gospel of John encouraging everyone to trust God in our current situation.

He said: "At this present time of COVID-19 we are, as it were, set in death in exile. I believe the Sovereign Lord who knows it all by the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead to life eternal, the life creating power of God will bring us out of exile - out of the valley of death. Sovereign Lord we look to you to deliver us."

Last Sunday, local churches across the country responded to the restrictions by streaming services and prayers - many of them for the first time.