Introduction

We seek to make the church and churchyard and their facilities, services and activities as equally accessible and welcoming, as far as is reasonably possible, to those with a disability as to those without.  In doing so, the PCC extends a warm welcome to those with disabilities and seeks to facilitate their participation in worship and activities.  Our policy has been renewed and is available to view here.  The policy applies to both the church and churchyard and includes:

• Physical access for disabled people.

• Adaptations and facilities for disabled people.

• Guide Dogs, Hearing Dogs, Assistance Dogs, Support Dogs, Service Dogs and/or Dogs for the Disabled.

Applicability of Accessibility Provisions

The church and churchyard of St John the Baptist are open to the public for the purposes of Services, including weddings, baptisms, funerals and memorial Services, burials, including burials of ashes, and other church activities as appropriate.  The church and churchyard are religious sites and are consecrated for these purposes and we ask visitors to respect them.  Should someone wish to rest on one of the benches in the churchyard or a pew in the church for private prayer or a period of tranquillity or reflection, they are very welcome to do so, and those who wish to visit the church are equally welcome.  On occasions, activities are undertaken where, for safety or safeguarding reasons, access is restricted and, again, we ask visitors to respect that.  Beyond that, the church and churchyard are not open for recreational or other purposes unless special provisions apply and appropriate arrangements are made.  These provisions apply equally to those without or with disabilities, including those who rely on the use of one of the types of dogs defined below.
 
Physical Access for those with Disabilities

Apart from the main path, the ground in the churchyard is uneven and old graves, gravestones and grave edgings present hazards for people with and without disabilities.  Care should be taken at all times in the churchyard.
 
The main path leading from the main gate into the churchyard towards the West Door is constructed from level access stone slabs and is suitable for wheelchairs and those using walking aids. However, the West Door is not designed for wheelchair access, as the doorframe runs across the floor above ground level. Level access to the church is available by taking the path, which continues, as gravel, round to the South Door.  Plans are in place, and a Faculty has been approved, to continue the level access stone paving to the South Door and the work to do this will commence in 2024.  Access at the South Door may be made easier by opening one or both of the double doors; before and after services, the Sidespeople will assist with opening them as necessary.  Mobility scooters may be parked outside the South Porch.
 
Within the church, ramps have been installed to facilitate movement around the church for wheelchairs users.  In some areas, the nature of the construction of the church places some limitation on movement but we have instigated practices to overcome these and they are described in the Adaptations and Facilities section below.

Adaptations and Facilities for those with disabilities

There is an accessible toilet in the West Porch.  At the time of a service, the Sidespeople can assist with the opening and closing of any doors, if necessary.  If the church is open but unoccupied, the toilet may be accessed at any time by those with a Radar key. Access has been facilitated by the installation of wheelchair ramps in order to overcome now-covered steps.  Access to the hospitality area is also facilitated by wheelchair ramps via the central isle.
 
The main altar in the Chancel has steps at the altar rail and the area would be difficult for someone using a wheelchair to navigate. However, during a service, Holy Communion is administered at both the main altar railings as well as in the adjacent Lady Chapel, where there is level access and no steps.  Holy Communion may also be administered to someone at their pew seat if that would be more convenient; simply let a Sidesperson know and (s)he will inform the priest.
 
In the event that there is a disabled minister officiating, an altar may be set up where the Chancel joins the main body of the church and Holy Communion will be administered from there.  For baptisms, a portable font is available and may be set up and used similarly.  There is also a tall, lightweight, portable chair available for a minister to rest on.

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The church building goes back to around 1190AD and can be cold.  In order to make the church more comfortable, heated pew seating has been installed.  The Churchwardens and/or Sidespersons will control the heating pew seating as appropriate.  Should any person find the heated pew seating too warm, they may ask a Churchwarden or a Sidesperson to either turn it down or be shown to a pew or area where the heating may be switched off.

For those who have hearing impairments, a hearing aid loop system is installed and is always on when the audio-visual system is in use.  All outputs from all audio-visual devices (microphones, projector, piano, guitar, CD, DVD, Bluetooth) are linked to the hearing loop to provide one homogenous sound; the one exception is the organ.

Guide Dogs, Hearing Dogs, Assistance Dogs, Support Dogs, Service Dogs and Dogs for the Disabled

Definitions for the Purposes of the Policy

The definitions that apply to different types of dogs are:

• Guide Dogs assist people who are blind or are visually impaired.  They usually wear a white working harness with yellow reflectors and tags on their collar.  A Guide Dog with a red and white harness indicates that the owner is deaf and blind.

• Hearing Dogs assist people who are deaf or are hearing impaired.  They usually wear a burgundy-coloured coat with “Hearing Dog” written on the coat.

• Assistance Dogs, Support Dogs, Service Dogs and/or Dogs for the Disabled assist people with many different tasks ranging from alerting people when their owner has a seizure to carrying items and many other tasks.  They usually wear a purple-coloured coat.

 
Dogs in the Churchyard and Church
 
Dogs that fall into one the categories defined above and are accompanying their owner are welcome in the churchyard and church.  

Other (pet) dogs are not allowed in the churchyard and church.  

We ask that dogs that are welcome meet the standards of behaviour described below and that their owners meet their responsibilities.
 
Typical Standards of Behaviour of Guide, Hearing, Assistance, Support and/or Service Dogs and Dogs for the Disabled
 
A Guide, Hearing, Assistance, Support, and/or Service Dog and a Dog for the Disabled is a highly trained animal that is not a pet and may be distinguished from a pet in the following ways:

• By wearing a special harness and collar tag.

• By being taught carefully to be, and actually being, well behaved in public places.

• By sitting or lying quietly on the floor next to it owner.

• By not wandering around a public place.

• By being unlikely to foul a public place.

 
Responsibilities of Owners of a Guide, Hearing, Assistance, Support and/or Service Dog and a Dog for the Disabled
 
It is the owner’s responsibility to ensure that:

• His/her dog meets the standards of behaviour described above and is kept on a lead.

• (S)he does not offer the dog to any other visitor or members of the congregation for patting or stroking.  The dog is a working dog for the benefit of the owner and is not present for the pleasure of others.  However, should someone ask whether they may pat or stroke the dog, the decision as to whether they may or may not do so is at the discretion of the owner.

• The toileting and feeding requirements of his/her dog are met.  Church volunteers are not responsible for the care of dogs.

• In the event that a dog fouls the church or the churchyard, it is the owner’s or the owner’s companion’s responsibility to either remove the fouling or to make arrangements to have it removed and, where applicable, the area cleaned; this may require the assistance of a church volunteer.