Accessibility
When St. Stephen's Church embarked on a capital campaign several years ago, an important goal of the building project we sought to fund was ensuring that our spaces are accessible to all. We regraded and re-engineered entrances, added an elevator and power assist doors, and opened spaces in the nave (the main church) to accommodate wheelchairs and walkers. Here are some of the ways we seek to make our spaces accessible and hospitable to all.
Entrances to the church and parish house are designed to be accessible to those with mobility issues or other physical limitations.
All entrances to the church, and the main entrance to the parish house, are equipped with power-assist doors. In addition, the main entrance to the parish house, from the large parking lot, has an elevator on the ground floor that allows you to bypass the steps. The Grove Avenue entrance to the main church is gently sloped, without steps, and the Three Chopt Road entrance has a ramp.
Inside the church, several pews are shortened to allow space for a wheelchair or walker: the first pews on either side of the center aisle, nearest the altar, and the pews near the large baptismal font.
For the hearing-impaired:
The church is equipped with assistive listening devices for the hearing-impaired. Please ask an usher for one of these devices as you enter the church.
If you are watching one of our livestreamed services and need closed-captioning, please use the YouTube livestream.
Receiving Communion
Three altars are available for receiving communion during the main Sunday morning services (9 and 11:15 a.m., or 10 a.m. in the summer): the main altar (in the center), the Chapel of the Holy Spirit (side nearest Grove Avenue), and the Chapel of the Good Shepherd (side closest to courtyard and parish house). When you receive Communion at the high altar (the main altar), please use the handrail as you descend the steps to return to your seat. Or you may exit to the left of the Communion rail (Good Shepherd side) and descend the steps next to the Sacristy, where there is a handrail and an usher will be available to assist you. If you take Communion in either chapel, you will not need to use steps to approach the Communion rail. You may stand to receive Communion in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit.
If you are in a wheelchair or are otherwise not able to take Communion at any of the three altars, please let any usher know that you'd like to receive Communion at your seat, and he or she will let the ministers know. A priest and a chalice bearer will be happy to come to you during the administration of Communion.
Questions
804.288.2867