Churches and Chapels

Like all leisure facilities, churches need to consider their approach towards disabled people. This means not treating a disabled person any less favourably than an able-bodied person, and making reasonable adjustments to the building to cater for users of all abilities.

Churches for All is a campaign to emphasise the vital need to include disabled people in the church. It provides objective, measurable access standards and guidelines for good practice, so that people with disabilities may be fully included in all religious and social activity.

The final stage of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), which was introduced in October 2004, stated that physical barriers preventing disabled people from making use of all services, must be removed. This included installing a ramp or platform lift where necessary to enable wheelchair users to access the upper floor of buildings.

The extent of the work a church needs to undertake to make it accessible depends on its size, available resources, the access needs of current and future users, and whether or not the building has listed status. On the whole, a large cathedral or well-attended church would be required to do more than a church with just a handful of worshippers. (link to news alerts).

Churches must plan ahead – it is not sufficient to wait until a disabled person comes into church. Leaders, stewards etc. should be made aware of the needs of people with disabilities and how to respond to requests for changes and adaptations. It is also important that the effectiveness of the disability provision is regularly reviewed, and further changes are made as and when necessary.