Andrew Robertson looks at the obstacles disabled people face in the everyday activities of parish life

A step too far to the church door
ONE of the most perplexing and difficult to swallow of all biblical quotations is the one about it being easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Many rich people who have used their wealth to help and assist their fellow human beings must have thought at the end of it all... "Oh, what's the use I shall not see God anyway!"
As a wheelchair user, I know how they must feel. Time and time again I have felt that it must be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a wheelchair user to enter the house of God.
Can I suggest that you stop reading this article now (perhaps you have already!) and for a couple of minutes think of the places of worship in your vicinity. Not only Catholic but Anglican, Non-Conformist, Jewish, Moslem the whole lot.
How many of them have no steps to the front door? One ...two? you'll be lucky if you can think of more, and this. I have to tell you, is repeated all over the country.
Not only will they have steps at the front door but they may well have a large expanse of gravel that you have to cross to reach them.
Once you have reached the steps arid are looking around for some means of transferring from the gravel to the door at the top, three men appear from inside the church. They are obviously intent On getting you up but when they see the wheelchair and your considerable bulk, their faces fall.
Fortunately, several of the larger choirboys and acolytes are summoned and when you have explained how to hold your chair and how the brakes work and take care or the footrests will come off they can usually get you up and in.
Once in, you might think your troubles are at an end, but you would be mistaken. Many churches have fixed pews, which means you have to sit at the side where a large pillar obstructs your view of the officiating clergy. Or else you are placed in the middle aisle where a lady wearing a large hat tries to convince you that you are not at all in the way, as she trips over your footrest and drops her prayer book, collection and umbrella.
An absolutely true story of what happened to me whilst waiting in the centre aisle of a church is as follows. Our vicar was much given to ceremony and on this particular Sunday, we had a large procession of choir. banners, servers and clergy. They came down the aisle from behine me first the cross, then the choir, singing lustily, then the banner followed by the servers.
Our servers wore long albs fastened around the waist by a cord that ended in large tassels. As one of the servers passed me, one of his tassels swung and firmly embedded itself between the hand grip and the wheel of my chair. To my astonishment. I found 1 was being dragged along with the rest of the procession, so in a moment of mental aberration. I jammed my brakes. The poor server was immediately stopped dead in his tracks as if he had been shot.
We struggled to free the tassel from my wheel and the choir disappeared into the distance, singing hut oblivious to the panic going on behind. Eventually I was freed and the rest of the procession was able to go on!
In many churches, the altar rail is at a higher level than the chancel so the disabled person has
to wait at the foot of the steps for the eucharist to he brought to them. This can he quite embarrassing. though invariably the churchwarden will say: "Don't worry, the vicar will come to you". How much better if we could join with the rest of the congregation at the altar rail at the Lord's table.
If life can be so traumatic for a member of the congregation in a wheelchair, how much more so for a priest. Come to think of it, have you ever seen a priest in a wheelchair? I doubt it. Most clergymen who through illness or accident have to use wheelchairs. are given posts in the office or in colleges... or are cardinals! Not many disabled clergy seem to be called on to celebrate mass or holy communion.
It could be difficult but it should not be impossible. 1 have, of course, concentrated on a wheelchair-user but there are many more disabilities that make church-going difficult. Both hearing and visual impairments, learning difficulties, arthritis (especially prevalent amongst the elderly population) all these can be barriers to attending services.
And yet. with a little thought and not a great deal of expense, there are solutions to quite a number of these problems. For instance. the "loop system" enables those using hearing aids to hear clearly, and large-print hymn books help the partially sighted to see. Someone to explain the service to those with learning difficulties is a great asset. A ramp and a handrail will help not only those using wheelchairs but ambulant disabled people as well.
There are an estimated six million people with disabilities in this country think not only how they would help to swell our congregations but also how much such people would have to offer to the life of the church.
Listeners to The Archers on Radio 4 will know there is a great deal of discussion and dissension about building a lavatory in the church at Ambridge.
How wise are the people of that village. To many elderly and disabled people, a loo is an absolute must and yet, how many churches have one that is readily accessible? There is usually a minute cubicle at the foot of the vestry stairs and round the corner from the robing room for the use of visiting clergy. but it is rarely big enough for a zimmer frame. never mind a wheelchair.
When so many churches are so bitterly cold, it is strange that they have not made more provision for what, in America. is euphemistically known as a "comfort station".
I am certain that more elderly and disabled people would go to church if they thought there was an accessible loo. Incidentally, one of the finest loos for disabled people I have ever seen is in the Vatican, and the Sistine Chapel has pretty good access too.
So what is being done to raise people's awareness about the needs of disabled people who are currently being excluded from so many churches?
Church Action on Disability (affectionately known as CHAD) is an ecumenical group of disabled and able-bodied people who are working in all parts of the country to influence attitudes in the church towards disability. Its three very clear objectives are access, participation and understanding.
Access does not just mean physical access to all parts of the building. important though this is, but full access to the life and activities of the church.
Participation is enabling everyone to make their own contribution. All too often people with disabilities are on the receiving end of others' kindnesses, and their talents are hidden away.
And understanding is an appreciation of what each of us can offer, either from a position of strength or weakness. Our understanding of each others' limitations and frustrations will surely lead to a deeper understanding of the gospel message.
CHAD took over the publication of All People from the Catholic archdiocese of Westminster and turned it into an all-disability ecumenical magazine. It has also published a general information pack, an access pack and a study guide. All these and any further information can be obtained from the co-ordinator at Charisma Cottage, Drewsteignton, Exeter, EX6 &JR.