An Inclusive Church
Everyone is welcome here.
St Martin’s and St Stephen’s are proud to be part of the Inclusive Church Network. In January 2026 our Parochial Church Council voted to join the network and to declare publicly our commitment to inclusivity within the Church.
What is Inclusive Church?
Inclusive Church is a network of churches, groups and individuals across many Christian traditions, founded in 2003. Its members share one vision:
“We believe in inclusive church – a church which celebrates and affirms every person and does not discriminate.”
Churches join the network when their governing body, in our case the PCC, agrees to affirm this vision. It means working to challenge discrimination in the Church, whether on grounds of disability, economic power, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, learning disability, mental health, neurodiversity or sexuality.
What it means at St Martin's
- You are welcome as you are. Whoever you are, whatever your background, and whoever you love, you are welcome to worship with us, to belong, and to take part in the life of our church.
- Inclusion is a journey. We don’t claim to have got everything right. Being an inclusive church means continuing to listen, learn and change, and we welcome your thoughts on how we can do better.
- Practical welcome. We try to make our services and buildings accessible to everyone, with step-free access, a hearing loop, and space for children and families during worship.
- Praying and acting. We pray for all who experience exclusion or discrimination, in the Church and beyond, and we look for ways to make our community more welcoming.
The PCC has also affirmed its willingness to use the Church of England’s Prayers of Love and Faith with same-sex couples who wish to give thanks to God for their relationship.
Find out more
You can read more about the network, its vision and its work on the Inclusive Church website. If you would like to talk to someone at St Martin’s about what being an inclusive church means for us, please contact the Parish Office.