Disabled Access in Places of Worship: from lepers' squints to iPad

hymn books

Rosie Sherrington, Social Inclusion and Diversity Advisor, English Heritage

Access in Places of Worship

• Has always existed

• Has changed according to society’s attitudes

• Is more important than ever– Ageing congregations– Law– Community usage

• Is it harder or easier to achieve?!

The Disability History project

• Disability History through Place

• Buildings, Landscapes, photographs and records.

• Covering 1000 years of history

• 40 webpages• Launched December 5th

2012 (Disability History Month)

What did we want to achieve?

• Mapping changing attitudes through buildings

• Involving disabled people in telling an inclusive Story of England

• Showcasing EH resources• Inviting new audiences in: social media• Amending List Descriptions to reflect

social history (later)• Encouraging new research

Discover the Past

The six sections

BSL

The Medieval period

Lepers’ squintLepers’ squint

Late Saxon timber Late Saxon timber church,church,Greensted-juxta-Greensted-juxta-Ongar, EssexOngar, Essex

A rather A rather uncomfortable uncomfortable ‘access feature’‘access feature’

Reproduced by permission of English Reproduced by permission of English HeritageHeritage

The Tudors

Life in the community

Buildings information

The Long 18th Century

The Victorians

Methodist Chapel, TruroMethodist Chapel, Truro

Reproduced by permission of English HeritageReproduced by permission of English Heritage

In Sambell’s own words. . .In Sambell’s own words. . .

. . . . 80 feet by 60 feet is rather more than the maximum size for . . . . 80 feet by 60 feet is rather more than the maximum size for hearing; practically a mean of 60 feet by 40 feet is best . . . a room hearing; practically a mean of 60 feet by 40 feet is best . . . a room nearly semi-circular, with one straight side; with the seats rising tier nearly semi-circular, with one straight side; with the seats rising tier above tier . . .above tier . . .

. . . and the minister lowest of all, is evidently the most scientific, for . . . and the minister lowest of all, is evidently the most scientific, for this plain reason, sound does not descend, it ascends . . . Think of the this plain reason, sound does not descend, it ascends . . . Think of the impressive effect of such an arrangement; the monkish fashion of impressive effect of such an arrangement; the monkish fashion of pews knocked away (save in some special situations for invalids) and pews knocked away (save in some special situations for invalids) and giving place to plain but comfortably-backed benches . . .giving place to plain but comfortably-backed benches . . .

the congregation, as is fitting . . . feeling themselves . . . equals in the the congregation, as is fitting . . . feeling themselves . . . equals in the House of God . . . the dispenser of the Word of Life embracing all at a House of God . . . the dispenser of the Word of Life embracing all at a glance, and when he speaks the sound radiates clear and distinct to glance, and when he speaks the sound radiates clear and distinct to the utmost confines of the room . . . the utmost confines of the room . . .

Letter from Philip Sambell, Letter from Philip Sambell, Baptist MagazineBaptist Magazine, Vol.33, 1841, p355, Vol.33, 1841, p355

The early 20th Century

St. Bede’s, Clapham St. Bede’s, Clapham

Reproduced by permission of English HeritageReproduced by permission of English Heritage

1945- present day

Wonderful technology?!

Links to other resources

Results so far?

• 1,500 page views in the first 24 hours

• Widespread reporting on social media and academic networks, as well as print media

• Positive comments from EH facebook fans, disability historians etc

• Follow up conference with LMA: much interest (speakers and attendees)

Updated EH guidance on Access

Different law, but same access needs.

Questions?

• Rosie.sherrington@english-heritage.org.uk

• www.english-heritage.org.uk/disabilityhistory

• http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/publications/easy-access-to-historic-buildings/