Welcoming
Neurodiversity
in Our Church

Everyone is wonderfully made, and our church is a place where all people are warmly welcomed and valued. We recognise and celebrate neurodiversity, and we want to create an inclusive environment where everyone can feel able to be themselves; where they can worship and connect with God in whichever ways they feel comfortable.

The following information may be helpful:

  • Please feel free to move around during the service; we all concentrate in different ways and need different amounts of movement.
  • We understand children make noise and like to explore their environment. This is joyfully welcomed! We often have interactive elements avaialble e.g. Lego or colouring/drawing. You don’t need to be a child to use these!
  • Activity bags are available at the back of All Saints' Church, Ripley. If you can’t see the bags, please ask a member of the welcoming team.
  • Feel free to use the sensory toys and dementia-friendly fiddle blankets available at the back of our churches, during services, or whilst just visiting.
  • If you or your child need a quiet space that is less stimulating, a member of the welcoming team can help you find this.
  • A Communication Board can be found at back of church. You can also download a copy here.  We are working towards having these integrated into our service booklets as well.
  • You will find symbols are used in most of our service booklets to show what is happening now/next. 
  • We are switching our service booklets across to all be larger print; if we haven't quite got to one yet, there is often a large print alternative available - please ask.  Where this is not yet the case, please accept our apologies, and let us know so we can get it sorted more quickly!
  • If you would like a coloured overlay, please ask a member of the welcoming team.
  • Receiving Holy Communion in one kind (just bread) is just as sacred and valid as receiving both bread and wine; many people prefer not to use the common cup.
  • Joining in with 'The Peace' (where people turn to those around them to wish them peace) is entirely optional. Some people prefer to wave or nod, rather than offer a handshake. Please do whatever makes you feel comfortable and safe.
  • Throughout the service you may see people sit or stand at certain times. You are welcome to join in with this, but please don’t feel you have to. Do what makes you feel most secure.

We are always happy to listen and to adapt wherever we can, so if there is more we can do, please let us know. Your presence enriches our community, and we are so glad you are here. 

 

Photo Tours of Our Churches

We appreciate it is not always easy to walk into a new and unknown space.  We don't have the technology to provide full 360 tours (if that's something you can help us with, we'd love to hear from you!), but we hope the photos below make it a little easier to know what to expect before you walk in.  Though please remember, all our churches are 'living' worship spaces, so the exact arrangement of furniture and displays will alter over time. 

All Saints', Ripley:

Our other churches will be coming soon!