A CHURCH will introduce dementia friendly services in an attempt to cater for all its parishioners.

Barnard Castle Methodist Church teamed up with the Alzheimer’s Society to trial its Dementia Friendly Worship last month to reach out to those living with the condition and their carers.

And after its success, Reverend Beverly Hollings, has decided to continue with the monthly services. Each lasts no more than 30 minutes and includes traditional, well-known hymns, a short reading, prayers and a thought for the day then is followed by tea and biscuits.

The services are also held in the church’s meeting room, to make participants feel less daunted by the vastness of the building.

Rev Hollings said church members had set an aim to make it more dementia friendly in 2017 after they attended a training course.

Advice was also given by dementia adviser, Nicky Tulloch, about small changes to help those living with the condition such as switching the dark doormat to a lighter one so it does not look like a black hole and better signage.

Rev Hollings said 16 people attended the service in August and asked for it to become a regular event.

The move comes after Barnard Castle signed up to become a Dementia Friendly Town last year and many businesses have made changes accordingly.

Rev Hollings said: “When Barnard Castle signed up to become a dementia friendly community last December, we decided, as a church, that our aim this year would be to try to become more dementia friendly.

“If there’s an hour-long service which is too complex, people become worried if they are bringing people in and they begin shouting out during the service so we thought we would try something midweek and they certainly appreciated it.”

Rev Hollings said the services, although aimed at older people and those living with dementia, are open to all.

Ms Tulloch praised the church for becoming more dementia friendly.

She said: “This is part of a wider initiative as Barnard Castle is a Dementia Friendly Town and it’s great to see faith groups, shops, businesses and schools become part of a dementia action alliance.

“Coming to church can be a big challenge for a lot of people so having something that’s smaller and friendly is much safer for both people living with dementia and their carers.”

The Thursday services will be held on September 21, October 26 and December 7, from 3pm.

For more information contact Rev Hollings by calling 01833-638272 or email beverly.hollings@methodist.org.uk