Disabled Access Provisions

In order to meet the needs of our present and potential congregation and to comply with legislation, the decision was taken in 2004 to put in train modifications to enable access to all major public areas of the building to those with impaired mobility. Given that the building is on a steeply-sloping site and also that the church is a listed building, this is no mean task.

None of the access options was perfect but it is believed that the facilities now in place meet the needs with a minimum of cosmetic disruption. Indeed, some areas of the building have been enhanced by the changes.

Main Access

The twin entrance doors were originally accessed via five steps from a narrow part-paved area leading through the gates to the pavement. It was just possible to contrive enough space between the south door and the southern end of the railings to install a concrete ramp of a suitable gradient. Due to the listed building issue, this construction took some time to get approval. We now have in place a handsome stone-clad ramp which is easy to use.

Rear Access

The rear of the building is some 15 ft. lower than the front and the rear door gives access to the church hall. Off the main hall are three smaller rooms and, until recently a small room used as a crèche, up five steps. This room was directly underneath the Memorial Room at the sanctuary level.

In order to provide mutual access between the sanctuary and hall within the building, a platform lift has been installed between the hall level and the sanctuary, using the original Memorial Room and Crèche spaces.

This lift rises to a level just below the dais level, giving access to the dais via a short ramp and to the pews via a longer ramp.

New Memorial Room and Crèche

These two facilities have been recreated within the rear of the sanctuary.
Three rows of pews were removed from each side of the church and similarly-sized rooms built in a style matching the rest of the interior.

Both rooms are soundproofed and the crèche is fitted with a controllable loudspeaker carrying the service sound into the crèche when required.
The Crèche is also fitted with a one-way glass window facing the body of the church, so that Crèche users are not cut off from the service.