Making church accessible has never been an ambition for Revd Heather Wright, it has always been integral to her ministry.
Her working life – both as a manager in social services and as non-stipendiary clergy – has been dedicated to ensuring Deafblind people do not find themselves excluded from essential activities, including worship.
Having served as our diocesan Chaplain to the Deafblind, as well as Chaplain for Norfolk and Norwich Association for The Blind, her specialism has taken her all over Norfolk and Waveney.
Taking accessibility far beyond printing service sheets in large fonts or braille, Heather would travel wherever needed to deliver services in British Sign Language, signed prayers palms via Deafblind Manual – whatever was required.
Countless hours of preparation for church has always formed part of Heather’s busy workload.
“Metaphors and senses of time can become muddled when told in the different forms of signing. So there is a lot more preparation required than for services in the hearing church,” she explained.
“The collect for instance, you can’t just read that out. You have to extract the meaning and then, through sign, reinterpret it in a way that will make sense.”
Despite the scarcity of the skills she possesses, Heather retains a humble attitude to the impact of her ministry over several decades and in all corners of our diocese.
Her pioneering work has nevertheless been recognised nationally. Heather was awarded the British Empire Medal, presented by Queen Elizabeth II in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
Heather is now retired with PTO and can regularly be found leading services in Sprowston, most of which are for what she refers to as the ‘hearing church’.