St Hugh’s is a joyful congregation from many backgrounds and communities. Some have been here their entire lives, and others have come more recently. We hold together many cultures, nationalities and stories, and seek to joyfully receive each other’s gifts. Whoever you are and wherever you come from, we hope you will find a home here.
We seek to be an inclusive church, which celebrates and affirms every person, and does not discriminate against people on grounds of:
- disability
- economic power
- ethnicity
- gender
- learning disability
- mental health
- neurodiversity or
- sexuality
If there is anything that would make you more comfortable or able to participate in worship, please do let the churchwardens or priest know, so we can see what we can do.
Feel Free to Get Comfortable
If you need to get up, move around and make a noise, please feel free to do so. There are always soft toys and a carpeted area to get comfy in church. We all praise the Lord in our own way, and some with a louder voice than others!
The Space
St Hugh’s is accessible to wheelchair users. It is all on the flat, with wide doors, and the chairs in church can be moved to be used as people would prefer. There is an accessible toilet. We try to anticipate how best to set up the space so that everyone can feel welcome, but everyone’s needs are different. Please do let us know if you need any adjustments to be made so you can be more comfortable.
The Service
The service at St Hugh’s has a predictable shape, with the words provided in an order of service (large print available). We come from a variety of backgrounds, traditions and cultural heritages, so we are used to people making themselves at home in their own way. Not everyone receives communion, for a variety of reasons. Not everyone stays for the whole service. Not everyone sings all the songs. Not everyone stays in one place. The last Sunday of the month we replace the sermon with an activity for everyone to join in with. It is deliberately inclusive and participation is not enforced.
Prayers for Healing and Wholeness
We will only pray for healing when a person requests it. We will pray for the sort of healing that people ask for. We try not to presume anything about anyone’s circumstances, or what they seek.
Southwark Anti-Racism Charter
Being anti-racist is not the same as simply not being racist. It is not enough as a Diocese not to be racist; instead we must actively counter, disrupt and oppose racial injustice. This isn’t an easy task; it takes introspection as well as continued intentional action and is not a static description of ourselves.
The Southwark Anti-Racism Chater was unanimously approved by Diocesan Synod on 13 March 2021.