St Mary's Battersea

jennyst

30 Sep 2018

4

4

Historic church

Date of visit: September 2018

I have experience of challenges around: moving around

I use or have experience of: walking aid, wheelchair

Overall Rating

Good

Beautiful historic church, light and airy inside. Wheelchair entrance is on the far side as you approach, round three sides of the building to get to it due to fence/wall. Main entrance has a few steps outside and more inside. Entrance is a little narrow. Lift will take you down to accessible toilet and nursery, or up to main church. Balcony area has separate steps and is not wheelchair-accessible, but is not used for most services. There are two steps up to reach the main altar for communion, or clergy will bring it to you if you let someone know at the beginning of the service, or you can go to the side altar. There isn't a separate wheelchair area, but the aisles are wide enough to sit next to the end of a pew. There is a project planned to shorten some pews to make better wheelchair spaces, details posted in the south aisle.

Parking & Transport

Average

Parking spaces available in the church yard, but having to go round three sides of the church is a nuisance, particularly for someone with a walking stick. Bus stops nearby.

Accessible Toilets

Average

Not enough room for my chair to turn around, so I had to back out.

Staff

Excellent

Everyone was very friendly and welcoming and well-intentioned, though more disability training for volunteers would be helpful.