01/05/2025
St Andrew’s Church is one of three churches in the parish of “The Thorntons and Otteringtons” and is a Grade II listed building, constructed in 1846 through the sponsorship of William Rutson of Newby Wiske Hall for the princely sum of £7000. This was a memorial to his father William Charles Rutson Esq., an eminent Liverpool merchant.
Writing to the Disability Project’s Parish Grants Scheme, vicar Stephen Treasure talks of their vision, “that St Andrews Church will be a fully accessible and inclusive community asset, embedded within the local community, meeting their needs and aspirations.”.
Within this vision, the parish has planned an ambitious project to install new accessible toilet facilities and kitchenette. However, none of these improvements would help people with limited mobility, until and unless the entrance to the church itself was rendered accessible! A consultation and inspection exercise revealed that, within the churchyard and main church entrance,
“The path was identified as the top priority, not only to improve and repair it, but also to create level access into the main body of the church, thus eliminating all steps.”
Putting first things first, Stephen applied for a Small Grant, which was significant in allowing them to address these issues and create access to the church which was free of trip-hazards and steps.
One of the first people to enjoy this newly accessible pathway and entrance was the bride and wheelchair-user groom, who were married at St Andrew’s in early April 2025!
