OPEN HANDS SIGNING CHURCH
DEAF COMMUNITY
Open Hands Signing Church was launched in January 2019 and is served by Susan Myatt, Deaf Baptist Minister, and a leadership team of Deaf people.
Our services are conducted entirely in British Sign Language, with an interpreted voiceover, so 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 1st and 3rd 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, 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 once a month.
Looking for our British Sign Language (BSL) courses?
Head over to risingbrook.org/bsl
GATHERING LOCATIONS
Open Hands Signing Church
10:30am
Rising Brook Community Church
Burton Square, Stafford ST17 9LT
2026 Dates:
11th January
8th February
8th March
5th April (Easter Service 3pm)
10th May
14th June
12th July
9th August
13th Sept
11th October
8th November
Penkridge Deaf Church
St Michael and All Angels Church
Church Road, Penkridge ST19 5DN
2026 Dates:
25th Jan
22nd Feb
22nd March
26th April
24th May
28th June
26th July
23rd Aug
27th Sept
25th Oct
22nd Nov
13th December
Stoke Deaf Church
The Deaflinks Centre at The Ellis Centre
Wellesley Street, Stoke on Trent ST1 4NF
2026 Dates:
4th January
1st February
1st March
3rd May
7th June
5th July
2nd August
6th September
4th October
1st November
6th December
LEADERSHIP
Rev Susan Myatt
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.
Watch Susan’s Bio