Accessibility

We are committed to making sure everyone can enjoy visiting St Mary-at-Finchley Parish Church and Halls. This page outlines all the support we have in place to improve physical accessibility. If you have any specific questions about accessibility, that you cannot find answers to here, please contact our Parish Administrator on 020 8248 3818 Mon-Fri 9am-1pm or email administrator@stmaryatfinchley.org.uk . At Sunday services the Church Wardens and Welcomer team will be on hand to assist.

St Mary’s Church Building

The main entrance has level access from the stone paved forecourt. The outer porch doors are open whenever the church is open, during daylight hours, generally 9am to 5pm.  The inner, timber-framed, glass double doors push open inwards.  They are generally kept closed, to keep the church warmer.  On Sundays, the Welcomers open one of the glass doors, as people arrive for services. The door gap width is 900mm check, which allows standard wheelchairs to pass through, or by opening both glass doors, wider motorised wheelchairs can gain access.  

Interior floors are composed of several different materials, relating to the church’s construction over hundreds of years. Materials include wood block flooring, wooden floorboards, stone, cream and terracotta chequerboard tiles, iron gratings and carpet.  The area of pews is at the entrance level. There is one step up xxxmm high, across the width of the church, leading to the Vestry/ disabled toilet, the Chancel and the Chapel. A steel ramp with handrails, gives access to the Vestry/disabled toilet. 

The disabled toilet is within the church, in the Vestry, through the timber door beside the baptismal font. The toilet is available to use throughout services and events. Include more detail from Access Audit here about facilities. 

There are several wheelchair bays in the church, so that users have an unobstructed view of the service.  Please ask the Welcomers to show you where the bays are.  We also have a wheelchair available on request. 

Lighting levels vary considerably through the church building, depending on the ceiling height, fittings used and natural light. During Sunday services, the majority of lights will be switched on, proving good illumination.  During the rest of the week, only some lights are on, at the entrance and in the central Nave.  Which area is best?  

The church has an induction loop system for those who are hard of hearing. How is this accessed? 

Guide dogs and assistance dogs are welcome at St Mary’s.  

Dementia Friendly Venue. Our clergy, church wardens and welcomers have done training to understand how to support those living with dementia.  

Parking Unfortunately, we do not have any designated parking spaces for disabled badge holders, however visitors can use the Church Hall car park, on Rectory Close, 50m from the Church entrance door. The car park is free, always open but can be busy.  

Street parking is available in front of the church and church hall, on Hendon Lane (inc charge times).  There are a small number of car spaces on Rectory Close (inc charge times).

Large print copies of our hymn books and orders of service are available, from the Welcomers.  The full service, including hymns, can also be accessed digitally by visitors on their own devices, via a QR code. Photos: someone using a device in service