Disability Access to Christ Church
Christ Church is committed to making all of its activities as open and accessible as possible to all. We want disabled people to play a full part in the community of faith. We recognise that there are many forms of disability, hidden and visible and that many people are living with issues and conditions that limit their ability to take a full part in the life of the church.
We know we have more to do but we want to work with disabled people to remove barriers to participation and welcome ideas about how we may do this. We are developing an action plan to improve our accessibility and will share that here when it is drafted for consultation before it is finalised.
General Access
There is a small car park in front of the church on Kingston Road, including a disabled parking space. On street parking in Warwick Avenue is also available. The church is entered by using the main door on Warwick Avenue. There is good access for wheelchair users. There are comfortable freestanding chairs including chairs with arms, which are easily moved.There are no steps after entering the church, including if moving to the altar rail to receive communion. The only exception is that the baptism (christening) font is on a small raised area accessed by steps. If you want to arrange a baptism and one of your party has mobility issues we can discuss what adjustments may be made.
Visitors with mobility issues
Toilets suitable for wheelchair users and families with buggies are available and accessible in church. The toilets have been found to be too small to accommodate large electronic chairs.Baby changing facilities are available.Visitors with hearing issues
Amplification is used but there is currently no working induction loop system . The service, using a large screen, often includes video clips of speech and music, which is not subtitled. We do not have anyone who is able to use BSL.
Visitors with sight issues
The worship is displayed on a large screen but paper Service sheets and newsletters can be produced in large format. Please let us know in advance if you require this. We email the newsletter weekly to everyone who wants to receive it and would be happy to add you to the mailing list, please contact Phil Knight (newsletter@christchurchstaines.co.uk)
There are some pillars within the church which obstruct a clear view of the screen and we suggest that anyone who is visually impaired try to avoid these. The church also experiences strong sunlight on sunny days through a large area of stained glass which may affect vision and can be uncomfortably warm. As the sun moves during services please ask for advice about where to sit if this concerns you.
Assistance dogs are welcome and can be supplied with water if it is required.
We hope that you will join us after the service, when refreshments are provided and there is an opportunity for the congregation to socialise. This takes place within the church itself adjacent to the worship area and uses the same seating as for the service.
Church Hall
The Church Hall is not used for worship, but the Sunday School does use the hall (children and young people begin the service in the church and are taken by the Sunday School leader to the hall, then return towards the end of the service). The main entrance to the hall is in Kenilworth Gardens and is accessible for wheelchair users. The children attending the Sunday School meeting usually enter the hall through a rear door between the church and the hall which is accessed by steps. Disabled children who wish to attend Sunday School will be assisted to access via Kenilworth Gardens.
Some of the paving between the church and the hall is uneven and unsuitable for wheelchair users, but this can be avoided and does not prevent access to the hall if moving around the outside of the hall to enter in Kenilworth Gardens.