Statement of Significance
St Mary’s Church, Maulden was enlarged and the interior reconfigured in 1859, the only major alteration since then being the moving of the choir stalls out of the chancel, the main altar brought forward and a new communion rail installed to commemorate the Coronation of the present Queen.
Care has been taken that the design of the handrails will be simple and unobtrusive and not detract from the main focus of the church, the uninterrupted view up into the chancel and the beautiful stain glass window.
Statement of Need
The elder members of the congregation do require a helping hand to navigate the steps up and down from the communion rail. After some years of deliberation, it was felt that a permanent handrail was necessary.
At present a person is really needed to stand either side of the steps to offer support. Whereas a handrail designed for an arthritic hand to grasp firmly gives the support required to navigate the steps unaided.