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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to want church to keep its music inside?

92 replies

Mylobsterteapot · 04/08/2024 10:43

I live next door to a newly established church. It wasn’t there when I moved in. They play loud, awful “music” multiple times a week. It’s not nice old hymns but crappy Jesus themed pop music, played badly by a band and sung poorly.

Today they have all their doors and windows open and the music is so loud. I’m trying to work, someone else is trying to sleep after a night shift, and everyone else just wants to enjoy their Sunday morning in peace.

WIBU to go round and ask them to shut the doors and windows to keep the music inside? Mine are all closed. I’m sure God will still hear them, but we won’t!

OP posts:
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DevotedSisterBelovedCunt · 20/08/2024 21:08

Polarnight · 04/08/2024 12:33

Would you do it of it was a mosque?

Didn't think so.

Twat.

Treaclewell · 20/08/2024 21:00

A thought. If you can identify some of the music, the Performing Rights Society might be interested. If they aren't using a hymn book but putting lyrics up on a screen. They were very hot about school's use of stuff at one time.

Demonhunter · 07/08/2024 00:07

When my son was about 5 I used to regularly walk into the living room and he'd turned on the GOD channel with some really terrible band singing. He would just start laughing when I asked why he was watching it and the volume gradually got louder over time. Luckily it didn't last too long.

You have my sympathy.

ThisHangryPinkBalonz · 06/08/2024 23:49

It's Sunday morning, surely it's not before 9am which I would say is reasonable. People need to invest in ear plugs or rural living! 😂

OrwellianTimes · 06/08/2024 23:48

Mylobsterteapot · 04/08/2024 20:53

Update and answers!

Yes, I would feel exactly the same if the music was coming from a mosque, temple, synagogue or any other place of worship. I lived with the call to prayer for a while in a Muslim country. I quite liked that, as it is A) Tuneful and B) brief! This is neither. I’m not sure congregational singing is part of many religions other than Christianity.

It’s not lovely old hymns, it’s like bad cheesy pop with added Jesus.

It went on for aaages. And there’s at least two mid week services.

Nightshift worker swapped rooms and managed to get a bit more sleep. I packed up and went to the library to work.

I went round and asked them to close the doors/windows and turn the volume down. They said it was too hot for that. Didn’t care a jot.

Write a letter and if they ignore it complain to the council.

They need to be more considerate.

OrwellianTimes · 06/08/2024 23:44

SaltAndVinegar2 · 05/08/2024 20:51

Erm - they can turn down the music to a reasonable volume. Christianity is 2000 years old, they managed fine without amplification for the first 1950. There's no reason to have it so loud that sound proofing is needed for a detached building with windows shut.

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Music tastes change and evolve. Many modern churches are in converted warehouses - with single skin walls and tin roofs. Traditional churches were built of thick stone and solid roofs.

Even without amplification a drum kit sound is going to escape out of a tin roof unless something is installed to absorb sound. Acoustic ceiling tiles are an affordable option.

SaltAndVinegar2 · 05/08/2024 20:51

OrwellianTimes · 04/08/2024 14:27

I used to be a sound engineer at a modern church. There’s quite a bit that can be done. Shutting windows and doors is number one. Sound proofing is number 2 - but can be very very expensive, particularly in converted warehouse type buildings.

Show quote history

Erm - they can turn down the music to a reasonable volume. Christianity is 2000 years old, they managed fine without amplification for the first 1950. There's no reason to have it so loud that sound proofing is needed for a detached building with windows shut.

Plmnki · 05/08/2024 20:42

Take this up with the council. Get a decibel meter, take your own readings. Keep a log of excessive noise, document it properly and formally.

follow the process and give the council the exact info they need to enforce this.

BlackPanther75 · 05/08/2024 20:12

Christian music or the worst. Complain to the council. Get a volume limiter installed on them

mathanxiety · 05/08/2024 20:09

Can you find out if this congregation is renting the church building, and if so, discover who owns it. Then lodge a complaint with the landlord.

If no result, go to the council.

LizzieBennett73 · 05/08/2024 17:11

I'd advise forming a local group that like to blast air horns en masse.... and make sure you all practise at the same time as the church, preferably next to it.

TempestTost · 05/08/2024 17:05

I think it really depends on how loud it is. I'd treat it the same as a neighbour who isn't a church.

The thing is - in an urban setting, at reasonable hours, people can be fairly loud without it being a nuisance in the sense of breaking local noise regulations. Even if they have a service every day.

AngryLikeHades · 05/08/2024 16:45

Mylobsterteapot · 04/08/2024 20:53

Update and answers!

Yes, I would feel exactly the same if the music was coming from a mosque, temple, synagogue or any other place of worship. I lived with the call to prayer for a while in a Muslim country. I quite liked that, as it is A) Tuneful and B) brief! This is neither. I’m not sure congregational singing is part of many religions other than Christianity.

It’s not lovely old hymns, it’s like bad cheesy pop with added Jesus.

It went on for aaages. And there’s at least two mid week services.

Nightshift worker swapped rooms and managed to get a bit more sleep. I packed up and went to the library to work.

I went round and asked them to close the doors/windows and turn the volume down. They said it was too hot for that. Didn’t care a jot.

Fucking idiots. It's people/organisations like that that give religion a bad name. (I don't like religion but that's another thread)
I'd definitely be informing the council.

mathanxiety · 05/08/2024 16:37

Several times a week at full blast is unreasonable.

Sunday - you're on a sticky wicket.

Lodge a complaint with the church. Refer only to noise levels and frequency of loud services, and non Sabbath noise nuisance. (Not quality of music).

Keep track of response and efforts they make to keep the noise down.

If it's not enough, go to the council.

Werweisswohin · 05/08/2024 16:05

Nannyogg134 · 05/08/2024 15:24

Literally just a suggestion, I wasn't thinking she'd fire off a quick letter to the pope to cover her bases.

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I didn't mention the pope? 🤔

Pannyfrants · 05/08/2024 15:26

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Previously banned poster.

Nannyogg134 · 05/08/2024 15:24

Werweisswohin · 05/08/2024 13:10

These people might not be CofE.

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Literally just a suggestion, I wasn't thinking she'd fire off a quick letter to the pope to cover her bases.

Cherrysoup · 05/08/2024 15:18

I’ve emailed the housing associate high makes the bookings for people renting out the place. There’s an advert on the front for a Christian group starting in the morning, but this lot went on til 4.30pm. Torturous.

OrwellianTimes · 05/08/2024 14:43

Ponkpinkpink15 · 05/08/2024 13:54

@OrwellianTimes

What would it matter if it was standard church service times (it's not). The OP was living in a residential house there first. You don't get to set up anything you like slap bang in the middle of a residential service then claim for it to be 'normal' & expect the residents just to put up with it.

I'm not at all religious, but I love hearing the bells on Thursdays & Sundays, but even if I didn't it would be my tough luck. The church has been there a very long time.

however, if someone started running this kind of 'service/noise' in the nearby community centre I'd be livid & id be making a huge fuss about it until it was stopped.

if I had wanted to hear that all the time id have bought a house near somewhere that creates that kind of noise

Show quote history

Because I’m very much assuming that the council have given permission for change of use for the building to be used as a Church. So yes, with council permission, you can set up a church bang in the middle of a residential area. It’s a well set precedent for churches to be on the middle of residential areas to be honest. Sunday morning would be the expected service time. Moreover it’s not going to be in a house - it’s most likely in an old industrial or commercial unit. It’s a fact of life that commercial units can butt up to residential areas, and any new businesses can move in.

We have to deal with a coffee roaster on the edge of our estate who stinks the whole estate out. It smells like burn gross food, not like nice coffee. I live about half a mile from it.

If you don’t like it take it up with the council.

SquishyGloopyBum · 05/08/2024 14:19

Have they got planning permission to use the property as a church? If no, contact the council. If yes, check your see if they have any operational restrictions on them (ie limited opening times etc).

Goldcushions2 · 05/08/2024 14:13

Record and report.
I wouldn't want to be listening to any religious racket imposing on me.
Report it to the council.

Ponkpinkpink15 · 05/08/2024 13:54

OrwellianTimes · 04/08/2024 13:41

OP - I think if it’s pound music 10.30 on a Sunday morning then that’s one thing. That’s standard church service time.

if it’s loud music multiple times a week then I’d write a letter of complaint to them. If they ignore contact the council.

The church needs to either install air con so windows stay shut, or install acoustic baffles to absorb sound. They need to be considerate of their neighbours. If they aren’t the council can order them to be.

@OrwellianTimes

What would it matter if it was standard church service times (it's not). The OP was living in a residential house there first. You don't get to set up anything you like slap bang in the middle of a residential service then claim for it to be 'normal' & expect the residents just to put up with it.

I'm not at all religious, but I love hearing the bells on Thursdays & Sundays, but even if I didn't it would be my tough luck. The church has been there a very long time.

however, if someone started running this kind of 'service/noise' in the nearby community centre I'd be livid & id be making a huge fuss about it until it was stopped.

if I had wanted to hear that all the time id have bought a house near somewhere that creates that kind of noise

Ponkpinkpink15 · 05/08/2024 13:40

BibbleandSqwauk · 04/08/2024 10:49

Its really hot and humid right now. A church service is only a couple of hours tops. This is part of living in a society. You may find it poorly played or whatever but the people inside are gaining great positive emotions from it. I'm an atheist btw. When did we get so utterly intolerant of other people living their lives?

When they want to do it loudly. They can live them quietly. Or build places like this in fields, not next to houses.

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