AIBU to want church to keep its music inside?

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.

You then involve the local government ombudsman for council malpractice. And if you have one the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Don't stop at one refusal.

In addition to my earlier comment, do you know any of your neighbours? If you could get them on board too, you have more of a united front.

I'd still recommend a letter to the church initially, then IF you need to get the council involved with noise complaints- they will take more notice of an entire street of houses complaining, over just the 1.

This type of thing is what makes me seethe about 'being christian'. Rarely do they show care and compassion for anyone other than their church. The assumption is that their service is more important than anything else their neighbours have to do! Definitely complain to the church and the council. I'd probably have marched over and slammed their doors shut.

Have you asked them to manage their noise better op?

I'd ask to meet with the minister/priest and just explain the noise is a bother and you'd appreciate if they can keep doors and windows shut when playing loud music/ having choir or band practice.

If they comply with that then it should reduce the noise but realistically there's probably not much more than that they can do as music is often a key part of worship and they're playing to a large number of people.

@LaMadameCholet sadly not... Sounds like I would have enjoyed it though 😂

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.

In the first instance I would try politely pointing out the problem to whoever is in charge of the church, but you might end up having to go down the council noise complaint route, because obnoxious selfish people who think God is on their side invariably top the Total Arsehole league.

I went to a SE grammar school and never sung that. It was always Jerusalem and other ancient hymns.

Or all SE schools - non-grammar area here and we still had to sing it all the bloody time!

This.

Whenever I complain about the amplified noise from the Church next to me I point out that not once in 20 years has anything I've done disturbed their service.

I would like to see what would happen is I sat under their window with a really loud ghetto blaster and played thrash metal for an hour while they were trying to do quiet prayer or something!

‘I’m sure God will still hear them, but we wont’ 😂😂😂 that really made me laugh. And YANBU at all.

I go to a church like that (modern, charasmatic) and we'd be horrified to upset our neighbours

Sounds like it may have been all SE grammar schools then as mine had blue uniform.

When their lives started encroaching on ours. Part of social living in considering the effect our actions may have on others in the group. I have a right to wave my arms around but that right ends at another person's face. I have a right play music, but once it starts to impact on those around me doing what THEY want or need to do, I have to turn it down. In hot and humid levels the church has to accept that the music must be quieter than when the windows are closed. When did we become so utterly tolerant of other people disrupting our lives?

Did you go to a certain grey uniformed grammar school in the SE by any chance?

It depends on how loud it is. If it is so loud you need to wear ear plugs, you have a case. If it is just like your neighbour playing a bit of music in the garden, which may not be to your taste, but is reasonably balanced, then I would leave them to their service.

I feel your pain OP.

For 20 years we have lived next door to a Methodist Church.

For the first 10-12 years no issues whatsoever.

Then they started to rent it out to the 7th day Adventists. Noise was unbelievable.

After years of arguing as politely as we could with the church and the Council we finally got to the point where the Methodist Church stopped renting to the 7th Day Adventists.

Brilliant - you would think...

... but about a year ago they started renting it to a Portuguese Church....

... all the same issues now - really loud amplified music going all day again.

Yesterday after 2 hours of hearing it all through the house I went over and into the Church to see what was going on.

About 12 people in the whole place. On the stage a singer, guitarist, drummer and keyboard player, a couple of amps and aobut 6 speakers... and to the side a fucking mixing deck!

They were doing "band practice"! I asked them if they could turn their amp down. They had a moan and said they would and came outside to listen... and did turn it down... but 5 minutes later back up top volume and carried on until 9.30 last night.

Of course not ONE person from the Methodist Church available or on site to monitor any of it.

We're going to have to campaign the Council again and I honestly don't feel like I have the energy....

... I'm known as "Church Noise Lady" on here!

I FULLY understand that there is a difference between a church and church service and what is essentially a music concert and the associated practice!!!

I live a few doors down from a Baptist church and they go on most of Sunday and then several hours on Wednesday nights/ In addition to the music I can hear the pastor shouting his face off. 😳

Would you do it of it was a mosque?

Didn't think so.

There is a church like this near me. Right next to a block of flats ...

That's why I suggested things like this could perhaps be better sited - on an industrial estate, say, or in a sports facility - rather than in a residential area

As said, though, the issue can be not so much recognising what the regs are but getting something done about it, and that's not always easy if the congregation are less interested in neighbourly relations than being consumed by the spirit

Get in quickly and complain to your council. Churches have to adhere to noise regulations too.

Same here! There is a church like this near me. Right next to a block of flats. I do t know how they put up with it several times a week.

Yabu 'Shine Jesus Shine' is an absolute tune.