Embedded Files
Whilst we have six old, listed, church buildings, our entire benefice is committed to providing an inclusive welcome to all who wish to join us in worship. Full accessibility details of our churches are listed below for your information. If you would like to visit us and you are concerned about access, get in touch, and we will try to make sure there is someone on hand to facilitate your visit. Please note that many of our churches have steps up or down into the main church, and if you are visiting midweek as a wheelchair user, it's best to let us know so that we can make sure our portable ramps are properly installed to facilitate your visit.
Members of our Deanery have put together a booklet entitled 'a church for everyone', addressing ways of making parish churches accessible to both visible and invisible disabilities. You can find the booklet here.
If you are looking for inclusivity information, please click here.
Charminster - St Mary the Virgin
Accessible features
Priority Parking on road for those with visible or hidden disabilities
Level entry into church building, with full access to nave, servery, north aisle and vestry
Accessible toilet and baby change
Communion distributed from the nave (level flooring)
Sensory items, such as soft blankets, provided on request or as a 'help yourself'.
Large print orders of service and hymn books
Hearing loop and microphones
Wheelchair spaces in church nave and north aisle.
Full-text orders of service for all (supporting BSL users and those who are hard of hearing).
Dementia and Autism-friendly congregation
Children's area
'Escape' room for those with sensory needs or trauma response (with some notice)
Possible Access Issues
Wooden gate from road and large wooden door into church kept closed outside of service times.
Steps leading into chancel, south aisle and bell tower for those visiting midweek (work in progress)
Future Plans
Worship Audit planned for Summer 2024 to evaluate accessibility of services and building, and to address entry and exit issues.
Stinsford - St Michael
Accessible features
Step-free path from car park (downhill) to church.
Level entry into church building.
Large print orders of service and hymn books
Hearing loop and Microphones
Full text orders of service for all (supporting BSL users and those who are hard of hearing)
Dementia-friendly congregation
Communion brought to those who need to remain seated.
Possible Access Issues
Church door has high latch and tricky catch
Step leading into chancel
Toilet not accessible
No baby change facilities
Very narrow nave
Future Plans
Ongoing project to add servery and accessibly toilet facilities into the west end of the church
Bradford Peverell - The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Accessible features
Ramps available for (uphill) church access
Level access inside throughout nave.
Large print orders of service
Hearing loop
Many services in accessible Village Hall in winter
Full text orders of service for all (supporting BSL users and those who are hard of hearing)
Dementia-friendly congregation
We will readily alter our services to meet any need
Communion brought to those who wish to remain seated
Parking on grass verge below churchyard
Possible Access Issues
Single step access into church and chancel (low steps)
No toilet or baby change facilities (village hall nearest)
Church Path is an uphill slope and those in manually driven wheelchairs may need additional help.
Future Plans
Expansion of West End 'corner' into informal worship space with circular seating area and small altar over the old bell.
New sound system and microphones awaiting installation.
Stratton - St Mary
Accessible features
Ramps available for church access
Level access through nave and to font
Large print orders of service
Communion brought to those who remain seated.
Full text orders of service for all (supporting BSL users and those who are hard of hearing)
disabled parking immediately outside gate
Possible Access Issues
No hearing loop
No hand rails
Set of steps into chancel
Steep drop to bell tower floor and west door
No toilet or baby change facilities (village hall/pub nearest)
Frampton - St Mary
Accessible features
Ramps available for church access
Level access throughout expansive nave and north and south transepts
Large print orders of service
Full text orders of service for all (supporting BSL users and those who are hard of hearing)
Possible Access Issues
no hearing loop
set of steps into chancel
No toilet or baby change facilities (village hall/pub nearest)
Road parking
Sydling - St Nicholas
Accessible features
Ramps available for church access
Level access throughout nave
Large print orders of service
Communion distribution
Full text orders of service for all (supporting BSL users and those who are hard of hearing)
Accessible parking on request
Possible Access Issues
Very steep access steps into church nave and up into chancel
No hearing loop
No heating
No toilet or baby change facilities (village hall/pub nearest)
Inclusivity
Most of our parishes are looking proactively at joining Inclusive Church and, whilst we may not yet belong to their list of inclusive churches, we fully support their mission statement.
We are committed to inclusivity as a sign of God's unconditional love for all. Whilst our worshippers come from a range of different traditions, we do not tolerate discrimination on grounds of disability, economic power, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, learning disability, mental health, neurodiversity, or sexuality within our church community or outreach events. All are welcome to worship with us, and all should feel safe and valued when they do so.
If you require a safeguarding/worship agreement, please see details on our safeguarding page.
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