Deaf Church brings deaf and hearing Christians together through services that use British Sign Language (BSL) as the main means of communicating. It is led by Revd Susan Myatt.
It has spread to various congregations across the Diocese of Lichfield an area with a population of over two million which includes Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, the Black Country and most of Shropshire in recent years.
Born Deaf and into a Deaf family, Susan attended a boarding school for the deaf and engaged in various occupations before feeling God’s call on her life to serve in ministry for the Deaf community. Susan attended the Northern Baptist College, and became the first Deaf Baptist Minister in September 2016. Susan holds three roles: Minister at Rising Brook leading Open Hands Signing Church, advisor within the wider Baptist Church network through Heart of England Baptist Association, and as an Advisor amongst the Deaf community with Lichfield Diocese. Revd Susan can be contacted by email.
The three congregations are:
Penkridge Deaf Church
- Meets: 3.00pm, fourth Sunday of each month.
- Location: St Michael and All Angels, Penkridge, Stafford ST19 5LY
The service is led by Revd Susan with the support of Ernest Seager, a Deaf Reader in the Church of England. Members of the congregation also offer support during the service by leading worship, reading Bible passages and creating activities for periods of reflection. After the service tea, coffee and cakes are available, along with a time for fellowship.
British Sign Language interpreters attend the church, which makes the service accessible to deaf and hearing people that wish to attend. In the past the church has had sermons delivered by the Bishop of Lichfield and archdeacons, which are always well received by the congregation.
Open Hands Signing Church
- Meets: 10.30am, second Sunday of each month
- Location: Rising Brook Community Church, Burton Square, Stafford, ST17 9LT
Open Hands Signing Church was launched in January 2019 and is served by Revd Susan Myatt, Deaf Baptist Minister, and a leadership team of Deaf people.
The services are conducted entirely in British Sign Language, with an interpreted voiceover, which means anyone, hearing or deaf is welcome to attend and will be able to access the service.
Open Hands also runs Open Hands Cafe on the first and third Monday of every month at Rising Brook Community Church. This group is designed to get people together informally to support one another and discuss faith.
At the same time as the cafe, another group meets called BSL Crafts, where people can come along to meet new people and create craft items for fun and fellowship, which are then given out to people within the Deaf community through our pastoral work.
Open Hands also joins with Lichfield Diocese Deaf Church in Penkridge on the 4th Sunday of every month.
Stoke Deaf Church
- Meets: 3.00pm, first Sunday of every month
- Location: 131 Longton Hall Rd, Stoke-on-Trent ST3 2EL
The service is led by Ernest Seager, a Deaf Reader in the Church of England. Members of the congregation come from Stoke-on-Trent and the surrounding areas. After the service people are welcome to stay and share in refreshments and fellowship.
Weekly Prayer
- Meets: Thursdays 9.30 - 10.00am
- Location: Zoom - contact Revd Susan for joining details
Bible Studies
- Meets: 1.00-3.00pm, every 2nd Sunday after Open Hands Signing Church
- Location: Rising Brook Community Church, Burton Square, Stafford, ST17 9LT
The Church of England's Barrier-free Belonging' (which shows how the church is incomplete without the presence and participation of Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people) has some great resources available:
True inclusion for Deaf people | The Church of England