Our three churches each have their own arrangements and problems for those with reduced mobility wishing to access the buildings or with sight or hearing difficulties wishing to participate fully in worship. You will find the details below but if your questions are not answered please contact the Parish Office or one of the churchwardens for the appropriate building - you will find contact details on the ‘Contacts’ page

On this page you can view the images in a window by clicking on the ‘Photo’ links



CHURCHES - ACCESSIBILITY ALL SAINTS

Parking: the streets to the immediate South and West of the church have disc parking limited to 1 hour. Parking discs are available from a table by the church entrance. The street to the East and further South is the High Street where parking is ‘Pay-and-Display’. These restrictions apply Monday to Saturday 8am to 6pm only - there are no restrictions on Sundays.

‘Blue Badge’ parking is allowed. The nearest dedicated disabled parking spaces are next to the bus stop in the High Street.

Toilets: there are two accessible toilets (with support rails) in the lobby of the meeting room area. These have level access from the main church through the vestry. The door from the vestry into the toilets is too narrow for some wheelchairs (68 cm) so should that apply you would have to go round the outside of the building to access the toilets via the Parish Office entrance. Photo
One toilet has a baby-changing facility.

Hearing: All Saints has a public address system and those conducting services use the microphones which are part of this. A ‘Loop’ system for hearing-aid users is also part of the system so that operating the ‘T’ switch on your hearing-aid should enable you to hear and fully participate in worship.

Sight: All Saints has some larger-print service books and hymn books available on request. Larger-print versions of the weekly notice and service sheets and any hymn or song sheets required will usually be available.

Paths, doors and floors:  the paths to the main door (South side) and Parish Office door (East side) are free of steps and gently sloping. Photo
The main door has level access. The doors themselves are not automatic and wheelchair users will require assistance to open them.
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The main part of the church has a level floor with flexible seating which can be moved to accommodate wheelchairs.
When the high altar is used for a Eucharist attendants will be present to assist at the steps in the choir area for reaching the altar rail and at the steps down into the vestry area for the return to your place.
Anyone who wishes to receive Holy Communion but who cannot manage the steps or is unable to walk the required distance should ask for help when coming into the service and arrangements will be made with the person conducting the service for Holy Communion to be brought to you in your place. The same applies at less formal Eucharist services when the Nave altar is used so that the distance is less and there are no steps.The Parish Office entrance has a gentle ramp and  manually-operated door requiring assistance for a wheelchair user. The floor area inside is flat. All internal doors are manually-operated and wide enough for wheelchairs - but see the note under
‘Toilets’.

Gluten Allergy: gluten-free Communion wafers are available - please speak to a churchwarden before the service starts

Assistance dogs: are welcome at all services and activities

ST JAMES

Parking: there are no parking restrictions or charges in the streets around St James Church. However St James stands at a junction containing a roundabout so that parking immediately outside the church is not possible as this would constitute an obstruction to traffic. Care should be taken to observe yellow lines and road markings.

Toilet: there is an accessible toilet in the lobby area. Photo

Hearing: St James has a public address system and those conducting services use the microphones which are part of this. A ‘Loop’ system for hearing-aid users is also part of the system so that operating the ‘T’ switch on your hearing-aid should enable you to hear and fully participate in worship.

Sight: St James has some larger-print service books and hymn books available on request. Larger-print versions of the weekly notice and service sheets and any hymn or song sheets required will usually be available.

Assistance dogs: are welcome at all services and activities

Paths, doors and floors: at the gate into the church grounds there is a small uneven step which may cause a difficulty for a wheelchair user. Photo
After this the path to the main door is free of steps and gently sloping with hand rails at both sides.
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The main door has level access. The door is not automatic and wheelchair users will require assistance to open it.
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The main part of the church and the meeting room to the rear has a level floor with room at the front of the blocks of pews for a wheelchair and one reserved wheelchair space at the back.
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 At a Eucharist attendants will be present to assist at the steps into the choir area and to reach the altar rail. Anyone who wishes to receive Holy Communion but who cannot manage the steps or is unable to walk the required distance should ask for help when coming into the service and arrangements will be made with the person conducting the service for Holy Communion to be brought to you in your place. less formal Eucharist followed by light lunch held each 2nd Thursday at 11.30am takes place in the meeting room and there are no steps.

Gluten Allergy: gluten-free Communion wafers are available - please speak to a churchwarden before the service starts

ST LAWRENCE

Paths, doors and floors:  St Lawrence is a very old church which was built without any consideration for those who might have difficulty getting to it. Access to the churchyard and the path to the church are not wheelchair-friendly. There are steps into the churchyard and on the path itself (with a handrail). The path is partially loose gravel and narrow as it nears the church.
 
Photo   It is hoped to make a more accessible entrance using the North door, but this will require some work and a separate path from the churchyard entrance.
The main door has difficult access.
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There are steps down into the church porch and into the church, but no handrail.
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At a Eucharist church members will gladly assist anyone needing help with the steps into the choir area in order to reach the altar rail. Anyone who wishes to receive Holy Communion but who cannot manage the steps or is unable to walk the required distance should ask for help when coming into the service and arrangements will be made with the person conducting the service for Holy Communion to be brought to you in your place.

Parking: the car park at St Lawrence is in the grounds of Kirby Sigston Hall. The surface is compacted gravel.

Toilet: there is a chemical toilet in a cubicle in the churchyard. Wheelchair access would be very difficult

Hearing: St Lawrence does not have a public address system or ‘Loop’ system for hearing-aid users.

Sight: St Lawrence does not have larger-print service books or hymn books.

Gluten Allergy: gluten-free Communion wafers are available - please speak to a churchwarden before the service starts

Assistance dogs: are welcome at all services and activities