Deaf Church – Diocese of Oxford

Everything you need to know about D/deaf and hard of hearing inclusion in the church

In this section, you will find a wide range of information, guidance, and tips to help make your church welcoming, accessible and inclusive, explore your calling and vocation, and celebrate the contribution and ministry of D/deaf people. Scroll down to find out more.

The Oxford Diocesan Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

The ODCD was established 125 years ago for the support of D/deaf and hard of hearing people in the Oxford Diocesan Area (see below for where this covers). ODCD works with D/deaf and hard-of-hearing people to meet their spiritual, social and general needs, and to help give them a voice and full participation in church and society.

The aim is Our aim is to promote the spiritual, social and general wellbeing of those who are D/deaf or hard of hearing in the counties of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire through:

• Working to raise awareness amongst the hearing community of the needs of the deaf or hard of hearing to enable them to play as full a part as possible in the life of their church and community.
• Organising worship and bible study groups with facilities to enable those who are deaf or hard of hearing to take a full and active part by providing BSL interpreters, lip speaking, screen projections and hearing loops.
• Providing pastoral support to those who are deaf or hard of hearing through visits, organising social events and keeping in touch via regular mailings.
• Providing grants to churches and individuals for providing interpreters, installing loop systems, BSL and deaf communication training or meeting the cost of transport.
• Supporting social and worship activities for the young deaf.
• Providing advice on ways churches can better serve those in their congregations who are deaf or hard or hearing.

Find more information and resources at the ODCD website and follow the Facebook page for regular updates.

Chaplain amongst the Deaf Community

The Revd Hannah Lewis is the lead Chaplain for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in the Diocese of Oxford.

This important chaplaincy role supports the diocese to tackle the barriers facing Deaf and hard of hearing people in the Church, to continue to develop the Church as a place that is accessible to all people, and to learn from one another to become a more Christ-like Church.

One of the main roles of the lead chaplain is running the Deaf Church for the diocese. This provides church services and spiritual and pastoral support in BSL. Scroll for more information about Deaf Church.

Read more about Hannah and her role with the OCDC

Deaf Church

This provides church services and spiritual and pastoral support in British Sign Language. We have one dedicated chapel in a Deaf centre (Reading – recently redecorated and in the process of being refurbished) and other congregations that meet in various places around the diocese.

While the chaplain is a Church of England priest, anyone – of any Christian denomination – is welcome to our services. BSL crosses hearing church barriers! All our services are led in BSL, but some have spoken voiceover, written liturgy to follow, and other ways to help non-BSL users access to worship. Deafblind people are also welcome.

The Deaf church can also provide for baptisms, weddings, and funerals in BSL. These are Christian ceremonies, but not necessarily Church of England. The lead chaplain can also work in partnership with other celebrants where requested. These can take place (with the permission of the local priest or minister) in a local Church. Baptisms can also happen in the Reading Deaf Chapel, funerals can happen at a crematorium, woodland/natural burial site or at a graveside.

Top tips for churches

What does BSL stand for, how do Deaf Church services work, and what can we all do to include Deaf parishioners in Church life?

Chaplain among the Deaf communities of the Diocese of Oxford, the Revd Dr Hannah Lewis SCL, shares the history and culture of Deaf Church. 

This is the third film in our disability top tips series – see the rest of the series on YouTube. A BSL-interpreted version of this series will be made available later in 2023 – we apologise it can’t be sooner.

BSL interpreters

We can help with finding BSL interpreters/ communicators who are willing and able to interpret in church for Deaf people for a variety of reasons and also for funerals in any location.

We can also offer help with the cost of paying BSL interpreters for such occasions if the alternative is that the Deaf person will not have BSL access. We can help with the cost of BSL interpreters for any funeral within the boundaries of the Diocese of Oxford, including non-religious ones. We ask people to explore alternative sources of funding first.  

For non-BSL users who are deaf or hard of hearing and struggling to access their local church, the lead chaplain can work with them and their church to explore strategies that can help improve access.

The National Christian Interpreters Network can also help find BSL interpreters for funerals and other church occasions. Find out more or email Sign’s of God. 

Contact

The lead Chaplain, Rev Hannah Lewis is available by email or text/WhatsApp 07933 199392. She generally works Sunday – Thursday but in an emergency will respond to texts at other times. If she is on leave, the out-of-office will be on her email with details so if no response to text it’s always worth an email to see when she’ll be back.