A reverend has vowed to use her position as a disabled priest to make church as accessible as possible for the Westbury community.
Rev Holly Newton, the Assistant Curate at the White Horse Ministry, lives with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), more widely known as chronic fatigue syndrome. She often uses a walking stick and will lead services while sat down to help control her energy levels.
Speaking from her home in Westbury, Rev Holly said, “I started having some symptoms [of ME] around the age of 17. I was exhausted all the time and went to the doctor for blood tests, but was told, ‘everyone gets tired.’
“I began to feel immense pain in my joints, that sort of achy pain you experience when you have the flu. The feeling only got worse as I got older.”
Rev Holly was finally diagnosed with ME while pregnant in 2011. Several busy years followed as she raised her two children with husband Tom and struggled to balance work and her condition.
A decade later and Rev Holly’s health took a downward turn when she was diagnosed with Covid in November 2021. The illness took its toll on her body which was already weakened by ME, and she was forced to take a month off sick. After attempting to return to work, the mum-of-two’s body crashed again.
“When I did return, we did a video message to share with the parish what the new situation would be. People have been really understanding.
“For me, there’s something really important about being visible as a disabled priest. Historically, I know you wouldn’t have seen a young, female, disabled priest so that idea might still be challenging to some people.”
Based off her own experiences, Rev Holly has now set up ‘The White Horse Team Ministry Disability and Inclusion Group’ to improve accessibility at churches in and around Westbury. The White Horse Team Ministry is made up of four churches in the Westbury area.
Members meet to discuss issues of disability, accessibility and inclusion in church life. Changes made to accommodate more people could range from larger font sizes to alternative seating arrangements, for example.
Rev Holly, who grew up in Somerset, added, “My aim is to raise awareness within the church and wider community about the accessibility issues which people might face, especially if they have hidden disabilities.
“There are some people who don’t go to church as they feel it is not a space for them. I want everyone to feel welcome.”
Rev Holly’s work to make church more inclusive is also inspired by her experience with daughter Anna, 13, who has autism. As a result, she is eager to hear from members of the neurodiverse community in Westbury on how the church experience can be made more comfortable for them.
Attendees to churches such as All Saints in Westbury should feel comfortable to bring a fidget toy to church to help them relax or to take breaks if they become overstimulated, for example.
Rev Holly, who was confirmed at the age of 21, said, “Our life experiences give us all different outlooks on things, I know everything I’ve been through has strengthened my faith in God.
“Some changes will be easier to make than others. There might be some wider projects we’d like to do to improve accessibility, like making the churches warmer, which would be dependent on funding. But if we are aware of the issues people face then we know which direction to move in and can work together.
“If one person is not coming to church due to an accessibility reason, we have to act.”
The White Horse Team Ministry Disability and Inclusion Group will be holding quarterly meetings to discuss issues of disability, accessibility and inclusion in church life.
To get involved or find out more email teamcurate@whtministry.org.uk or call 01373 826816.
