This blog features reviews of wheelchair accessibility for places to go and things to see in and around Jamestown, ND. Follow the adventures of Zach and John as they explore some of the best places to wheel. Jamestown has made some excellent improvements since the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990. Zach's job is to encourage wheelchair users to take advantage of those changes, thereby paving the way for further improvements.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Grace Episcopal Church, Jamestown, ND


On a fall day Zach and John ventured out into the sprinkling rain to check out Grace Episcopal Church in Jamestown, North Dakota, looking at wheelchair accessibility. Father Kevin Goodrich met us at the door and explained that the Episcopal Church often serves as a bridge between the Catholic Church and Protestant churches. It is a good denomination to consider for families where one of the parents is Catholic and the other is not.


Father Kevin was pleased to show us around this wonderful church building, basically all on one level with easy wheelchair access on the southwest side. One of the patrons of the church is a wheelchair user and has provided much input into accessibility accommodations.


The church building was built in the early 1880's and was modeled after a Gothic style church in Medway, Mass., a church which had been modeled after an Anglican Church in Medway, England. Fargo architect George Hancock, designed the building. The church is built of native fieldstone.


The ramp and automatic door on the west end of the south side brings this building into the 21st Century. For someone in a wheelchair looking for a church to make them feel right at home, they need look no further.



Accessibility Highlights:

* Ramp & automatic door on SE corner of the building.

* All on one level.

* Regular wheelchair-using church member promotes accessibility improvements.

Photos by Zach & John







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