Comments on: Churches should be more dementia-friendly, Anglican expert says https://anglicanjournal.com/churches-dementia-friendly-anglican-expert-says/ National News from the Anglican Church of Canada Wed, 17 Jan 2018 00:01:52 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Jane Buttery https://anglicanjournal.com/churches-dementia-friendly-anglican-expert-says/#comment-6216 Wed, 17 Jan 2018 00:01:52 +0000 http://anglicanjournal.com/?p=153604#comment-6216 I love Liam’s comment! Some years ago, an older parishioner told me that she would attend more often if the pews were more comfortable; she suffered from arthritis. One rector once talked about putting easier chairs in two rows at the back of our church. Unfortunately, he moved. He was thinking also of mothers and babies so there are other reasons for getting away from the traditional pews. Maybe that way Anglicans would move forward to a comfortable seat!
Having a different arrangement for people who are apprehensive about coming would make them feel more at ease. we need to discuss this more.

]]> By: Liam Ray https://anglicanjournal.com/churches-dementia-friendly-anglican-expert-says/#comment-6215 Tue, 16 Jan 2018 21:15:17 +0000 http://anglicanjournal.com/?p=153604#comment-6215 It’s worth pointing out that most of the above tips don’t just make things easier for seniors, but also for newcomers.

I might suggest further that church accessibility can be improved by eliminating pews, and having seating available only for people who need it. I recently visited an Eastern Orthodox church that had moved all its nice old pews to the edges of the room, and had chairs or cushions available for those who wanted them. I was stunned at how it allowed everyone to move more freely in worship, particularly anyone in a wheelchair. Teens could fulfil their rebellious streak by sitting in the floor. It also turns out that it’s what everyone did before the fifteenth century anyway, so traditionalists should have no grounds to protest.

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