Bishop Robert says there is no greater risk of contracting swine flu at church than any other virus.

However, he also believes that some aspects of church services, including communion, may have to be suspended if the Isle of Man became seriously affected by the worldwide pandemic.

Bishop Robert has even been wondering how the Island would cope if there were mass deaths from the illness.

He told Manx Radio:

"People who are involved in bereavement counselling and the burial of the dead and so forth, undertakers, clergy and others would be under significant pressure.

"And so, we are already thinking about what would happen if that were the case, but we are really nowhere near that position at the moment.

"But I have already started to think about what would happen if that should be the case."