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 9:30am-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 stone is uneven, and slopes down from the footpath to the entrance.

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 75cm (29.5″), which allows standard wheelchairs to pass through, or by opening both glass doors, wider motorised wheelchairs can gain access.
Photo: doors

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 14cm (5.5″) 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.
Photos: Interior floors. Floor, step and ramp in outer south aisle

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.
Photos: door leading to Vestry and toilet

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.
Photos: The central Nave area with wheelchair bay on left of aisle

The church has an induction loop system to help hearing aid users hear speech and audio more clearly by transmitting sound directly to compatible hearing aids via the telecoil (T-coil) setting.
Photo: Logo

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.
Photo: Logo

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.
Photos: Carpark and footpath to church entrance

Street parking is available in front of the church on Hendon Lane (parking charges apply Mon-Sat 8am-6.30pm).  There are a small number of car spaces on Rectory Close (Permit holders only Mon-Fri 2-3pm).

Public Transport A bus stop (G) is situated directly outside the church. This is for Routes 125 and 326 heading towards North Finchley.  Stops for the opposite direction are situated in both Regents Park Road and Gravel Hill, a 250m walk approximately.  Bus routes 13, 143, 460 and N20 are also available in Regents Park Road. Finchley Central Underground Station, on the Northern Line, is a 450m walk.

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, which is displayed at the door.