Policies
The Parish’s Safeguarding policy is outlined here.
The Parish’s Environmental Policy
A fragile world, entrusted by God to human care, challenges us to devise intelligent ways of directing, developing and limiting our power…Everyone’s talents and involvement are needed to redress the damage caused by human abuse of God’s creation. All of us can co-operate as instruments of God for the care of creation, each according to his or her own culture, experience, involvements and talents.
from Laudate Si, by Pope Francis
As a church community, we will always try to take environmental concerns into account in all our activities: in our worship, our evangelisation, our community, our ministry, our discipleship.
Risk Assessments
The following Risk Assessments were updated in November/December 2020
- Risk Assessment for re-opening St Thomas More’s church in Stockbridge after lock down
- Risk Assessment for re-opening St Peter’s church after lock down
- Risk Assessment for re-opening St Gregory’s church after lock down
- Risk Assessment for re-opening St Stephen’s church after lock down
Church accessibility
St Peter’s Church
Travel – Buses stop outside church, with city and out-of-town buses stopping there. Train station 5 – 10 minutes walk. Car Parking in Church grounds is very limited. There are two designated disabled parking bays for daily use, with an additional 3 on Sundays (including 6.00pm Sat Mass). Nearest car parks are on opposite side of road, or off Gordon Road (down North Walls).
Access – Ramped access to church entrance for wheelchair users and those wishing to avoid a step. Access is wide enough to support motorised chairs/scooters. Double doors into narthex which is carpeted, before double doors into Church with wooden floor throughout.
Holy Water stoops at hand level.
Aisles are wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs. There are no designated parking places for wheelchairs, but room enough to be alongside outer end of rows, and so able to sit with family/friends, without impeding processions.
There are steps up to the sanctuary, but Holy Communion is distributed on the lower level. Holy Communion can be brought to you (but please advise Welcomer or Celebrant).
Toilet – There is an accessible toilet located in the Pastoral Centre (through doors by organ on RHS).
Hearing loop – Yes
Large print newsletters – distributed weekly and found at the back of church
Holy Communion – Gluten Free hosts are available. Please advise the Welcomer/Celebrant if this is required before Mass begins.
Assistance dogs – are very welcome.
Repository – In Pastoral Centre, level access.
Pastoral Centre – Open during office hours and during/after Masses. Level Access throughout. Accessible toilet. Lift to first floor
St Stephen’s Church
Travel – Stagecoach Buses No. 1 and No. 5 stop within half a mile of the Church. Check timetables!
Car parking – Ample parking available, included two designated disabled parking (for Sundays) to left-hand side of the church, close to level access door into church.
Access – Steps up to church doors, plus additional step into church. There is a portable ramp available. Level access is via door to left-hand side of church, (width wide enough for traditional wheelchairs.)
The Church is level, with a step to the sanctuary.
The length of the pews make catering for wheelchair users a little difficult to be ‘seated’ near family/friends, unless placed near the wall, by the sacristy
Holy Communion – can be brought to you if required. (This is probably the best option, as the sanctuary area get quite crowded at Communion time!) Please advise the Welcomer or Celebrant).
Gluten Free hosts are available. Please advise the Welcomer/Celebrant if this is required before Mass begins.
Toilet – There is an accessible toilet to the rear of the church, close to the level access door to the outside.
Hearing loop – Yes
Large print newsletters – distributed weekly and found at the back of church
Assistance dogs – are very welcome.
St Gregory the Great’s Church
Travel – No. 64 bus (Winchester – Alton) stops near to the church. Check timetable.
Access – Large Car park, but rough surface. No designated disabled car parking.
Long ramp to Church entrance. Step into Church, portable ramp available into vestibule, followed by doors into church. Level access is via door to Church Hall (heavy!) and through doors to Hall and doors into church.
Aisles are narrow, but can be accessed by traditional sized wheelchairs. Long pews + narrow aisles can make it difficult to place a wheelchair alongside family/friends. There are many comfortable supportive chairs available.
The floor is wooden and level. There is a step onto the sanctuary, and Holy Communion is distributed from the edge.
Holy communion – can be brought to you. Please advise the Welcomer or Celebrant before the Mass begins.Gluten Free hosts are available. Please advise the Welcomer/Celebrant if this is required before Mass begins.
Toilet – There is a wheelchair-accessible accessible toilet in the Church Hall
Hearing loop – Yes
Large print newsletters – distributed weekly and found at the back of church
Assistance dogs – are very welcome.
Parish Hall – Level Access throughout. Accessible toilet
St Thomas More’s Church
Access – Street parking only. Level access (narrow) through gate off high street to church path but only part of it is paved leaving some gravel sections which may be difficult for traditional wheelchairs.
Level access into and in church. Wide enough to accommodate hand propelled traditional chairs.
Wheelchair users are encouraged to be to the side of the sanctuary area.
Toilet – There is an accessible toilet, through door to the left of the sanctuary, for traditional chair users.
Hearing loop – We are sorry but one is not installed in church
Large print newsletters – distributed weekly and found at the back of church
Holy Communion – Gluten Free hosts are available. Please advise the Welcomer/Celebrant if this is required before Mass begins.
Assistance dogs – are very welcome.