Can you be hospitable if you’re not accessible?

The Church of The Holy Rood, Sparsholt, is on a mission to be a more accessible and welcoming place. We have awarded the church £2,500 from our Development Fund to work out what is possible and make a plan to repair, refurbish, and reorder the church. 

Churchwarden, Ian Lambourne, said:

“Our church building has been part of life for many people in this community. But we don’t have systems and structures in place to host everyone without excluding some. We have a vision to install sound systems and screens to support deaf people, heating to keep people comfortable, Wi-Fi and a projection screen to make it easy for people to follow along during a service or event, a baby changing station, new lighting, toilets and running water. These are all really common features in community buildings but our church has been stuck in the past. With this money, and other funds we have raised, we can make sure the building is fit to support the needs to local people.” 

Starting with a feasibility study this year, the church can create a masterplan and submit proposals to be approved by the statutory body in the Church of England that advises on the care, maintenance, and development of church buildings (a church version of local planning departments). Work can then begin on making changes and installing the new systems. 

The Church of the Holy Rood in Sparsholt would like to become a great place for all sorts of community events to take place, from art exhibitions to concerts, as well as Sunday services, baptisms, and weddings. With greater ability to be hospitable for all ages and needs, the church is excited to serve the local community. 

In December 2025, we gave 11 churches across the diocese money from the Development Fund. The total amount awarded in this round was £299,047. 

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The full list of awards is as follows: 

1. St Peter’s, Loudwater to employ a worship and young adults pastor to establish and help lead a young adults congregation and foster engagement, discipleship and leadership among young people 
2. Didcot Ladygrove to grow support for families and provide increased capacity for mission in schools and our rapidly expanding parish by employing a children and families worker 
3. Iffley Parish to expand significantly the discipleship pathways for children and families in the parish by employing a children and families worker 
4. Penn Street & Holmer Green to engage with more children, young people and families by employing a children and youth outreach worker 
5. East Hendred to grow the number of young disciples in the church by developing and promoting our newly restarted Children’s Church 
6. St John the Evangelist, Woodley to grow connections and disciple young people by employing a part-time youth minister 
7. Hambledon Frieth to form detailed plans for installing a kitchen/WC extension in the church 
8. St Mary Magdalene, Marlston to erect a noticeboard at St Mary Marlston Church entrance to make our work better known in the parish 
9. Church of The Holy Rood, Sparsholt to conduct a feasibility study to develop plans that prioritise how best our reordered Church will serve the local community 
10. St Mary Magdalen, Stoke Talmage to support opportunities to build connections with the community by installing water, drainage, WC and kitchen 
11. St Catherine’s, Bearwood to obtain a comprehensive survey of the church and environs in order to develop level access, accessible WC and a kitchenette to support outreach and hospitality 

Since its inception we have awarded £5.5 million to churches through the Development Fund.