St Mary’s strives to be an inclusive church community that welcomes all people. You will see from our website that we have tried to create this as an accessible space, creating social stories about our different services, and with a message of welcome to all.
We have ramps which can be put down for access to the buildings, an accessible toilet and induction hearing loop in both hall and church.
One area where we believe passionately about inclusion and justice is in relation to issues of gender and sexuality. As a church we have decided to offer the prayers of love and faith for LGBTQIA+ partnerships, and members of our church leadership are active within both Together in Rochester (which is a diocesan network for all those desiring a more diverse and loving Church of England https://togethercofe.org.uk/ ), and A Seat At The Table (a monthly service and community of LGBT+ Christians and allies, who meet alternately for Holy Communion / fellowship at the cathedral, and in churches around our diocese https://www.rochestercathedral.org/seat-at-the-table).
When it comes to it, our local Christian community actively support those who are often excluded, or to whom the church does not extend equality. This is a sadness that we still live with as a national church, and something that continues to be explored through the Living in Love and Faith process of the General Synod of the Church of England. https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/living-love-and-faith
