In conversation with local groups supporting adults with additional needs, St Mary’s church in Oldswinford has created a service, which is designed to be accessible for all.
Proposed by curate, Claire Cox, ‘Morning Praise’ takes place on the first Wednesday of the month. Rather than using the pews, those present sit in semi circles on chairs at the front of church and a ‘call and repeat’ format is used rather than the more traditional ‘call and response’. It uses a light version of the standard liturgy with the Bible reading taken from the ‘Easy to Read’ version. Although PowerPoint is used, it is not necessary to be able to follow it, making it easier for those with visual impairments or those who struggle with reading.
Claire said: “We felt this was an important service to develop alongside our other NWCs – Singing Angels and our 4 O’clock family service. We wanted to ensure there was something that different groups of people felt comfortable inviting others to. We have sought advice about Morning Praise and thought really carefully about how to make it as accessible and welcoming as possible.”
The service launched in January ’25 and so far, has focused on the themes of ‘Hope’, ‘Prayer’ and a light focus on ‘Lent and preparing for Easter’. Prayers have a general focus usually on family members. We sing together using backing tracks from iTunes and the songs are simplified through repeating verses and singer fewer of them.
Claire said: “Some of our existing members also attend to support those present with the congregational calls. Using repetition is important as this is reassuring to regular attendees who get to know what’s coming next. We have already received some great feedback and I’ve grown to love and look forward to Morning Praise so much! I feel it feeds my soul as much as those attending. We just have so much fun!”
The idea of holding the service came about because Claire and Rector John Flitcroft have been reaching out to groups that attend a nearby community hub called the Coach House in Stourbridge for the last few years and it was on their hearts to do more to involve these groups in the life of the church. 
Curate Claire Cox often pops into a group, called ‘Clover Leaf’, for a cuppa and a chat and since this time last year has discussed with the leaders what more they could do together.
Coming into church initially to sell some of the crafts they had made, Claire found the group loved being in church and suggested they all come to a service. They arranged for the whole group to come before their Christmas meal in December and organised a tailored service for them in which they were each given a knitted nativity figure and invited to bring their character to the front when the corresponding part of the nativity story was being told.
After this, and in conversation with Clover Leaf’s leaders, they came up with the idea of doing a regular monthly service, accessible to all.
Claire is seeking advice from a variety of other local groups that meet at the community hub as to whether there are any other ways they could make it more accessible as well as to the wording to use on marketing materials to attract other groups assisting local people. Claire is also meeting NWC Enabler Kim Brown from the diocesan Transformation Support Hub for some further support.
Claire Cox is looking for insights into how to make the service even more accessible to all groups. Equally Claire is happy to chat to anyone looking for more advice on what to consider to create a similar fully accessible service.
Email: clairecoxcofe@gmail.com
