"Signing the Faith"

At Greenhill Methodist Church in Sheffield, worship has an inspiring addition with the use of Makaton – a communication programme that combines signs, symbols and speech. Introduced to make services more accessible, it is helping people of all ages and abilities engage more deeply with worship.

The church began using Makaton around two years ago after recognising the importance of making the Gospel accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities, learning difficulties and hearing loss.

“We want the Gospel to be accessible for everyone,” explains James Pettinger, who is involved with the children’s work at the church. “Makaton is supportive communication. It gives people another way to understand and connect with the message.”

The congregation primarily uses Makaton alongside its monthly worship song. Learning the signs gradually over a few weeks helps both children and adults become familiar with the song’s meaning. “We use the same song each half-term, so everyone learns it together,” says James. “We learn the signs bit by bit until we know the whole song, and the more signs we learn, the quicker we pick them up.”

Unlike traditional action songs, Makaton signs carry specific meaning and are formally recognised across schools, care settings and residential homes. “This is a step on from just actions,” James adds. “We’re using signs that communicate meaning rather than simply movements.”

Although some members were initially unsure, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. “People were sceptical at first, but everyone has got on board with it, we use resources from the Count Everyone In project which have been really useful and allow us to learn Makaton step by step.” James said.

By signing together, the congregation is demonstrating that faith, inclusion and community can be expressed in many meaningful ways.