ST CHRISTOPHER’S Church is set to become a full-time vaccination station for the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine from next week.

It is hoped NHS staff will begin setting up in the church on “either Monday or Tuesday” and begin vaccinations immediately, dedicated for those in the most medically vulnerable groups.

Reverend Chris Bessant, rector of Haslemere, who received a phone call from the Surrey Heartlands Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “It was quite clear they had not had long since being told to start getting these things together.

“The national picture of this seems incredible.”

“St Christopher’s is quite well set as a place to get to, and it offers itself as a flexible space.”

The church will operate as a vaccination station from 8am to 8pm for seven days a week, with hopes to vaccinate up to 300 people a day – and the church will continue to stream its services online, with its regular 8am service moved to St Bartholomews.

But Rev Bessant confirmed they would take a “little break” to allow for a Christmas morning service.

He said: “I am, without reserve, totally supportive and enthusiastic.

“We are community focused. That is what we are about.

“Those with the greatest need will be the first to receive this miracle of medical science – right in the place where hope is always to be found, in their own parish church.

“I can’t tell you how pleased I am to have this opportunity to serve the most vulnerable in our community.”