A church in a private garden?

[JorisBonson]

Posted about these guys before!

Just got home after a weekend away and my neighbours are having a full on church service in their garden - big gazebo, rows of chairs and a professional PA system.

We're all terraced with very narrow gardens, so the noise travels massively, nobody is able to have windows or doors open if they want to hear themselves think.

Google has drawn a blank - is this allowed? If it was a one off it wouldn't bother me but their activity has been ramping up and I'm hoping this won't now be a weekly thing - especially as DH works nights. It's the super powered PA system that gets me!

Thanks hive mind!

Nope, needs planning permission for change of use.

A lot of new churches do start up in houses in a small way, but this is totally taking the piss. I used to work with a lot of small/new/non-mainstream churches and while they were on the whole lovely people, their services were really fucking loud and went on for hours. It's time for them to find some premises.

Can you ask them to stop using the PA for today? Have a chat about when they will be getting proper premises? Let them know they are disturbing everyone, which puts people off God.

I'd take some recordings/pics a d contact the council. And call environmental health today to record there's noise nuisance.

I wouldn't have an issue with the service, I would have with a PA system which is completely unnecessary in a small, terraced garden.

Also, any neighbour that puts one up for a party or something ought to inform neighbours inadvance and invite them along, same etiquette applies ;)

Thank you. Wanted to check the ins and outs before doing anything. I'll leave it for today but I'll be pissed if it becomes and every Sunday thing. I wouldn't buy or live next to a church for this very reason!

Absolutely how I feel. It's a professional marquee with a sound system to match. We're in such close quarters here.

Was just chatting with another neighbour who is going for the note through the door approach, just good to know what our options are you forward! Cheers MN

Please go and speak with them, don't do the note through the door. The noise being the issue.

They may be willing to reduce the noise, or have a specific time.

I'm not planning to do anything unless it becomes a regular problem, just wanted to check I had all the information I needed first 👍

Omg!! I feel your pain A building 2 doors up from us is used as a church and we have 3 sessions every Sunday and the windows open with music blaring and really loud singing 😭😭 ive just had my daughters nap cut short yet again

I just contact the council noise complaints department every time but not sure if it does anything

have you tried speaking to the mm about it?

we called up one day and they were very friendly but Not willing to change anything unfortunately- wanted to invite us in to meet the pastor (no thanks)

id say report each time to the council see if anything comes of it

maybe 101 non emergency police could shed some light on if it’s allowed ??

Play Black Sabbath at top volume?

I was going to suggest AC/DC’s Highway to Hell. 🤣

I was considering the Sex Pistols. DH using a jet wash will have to do 🤣

It's turned into a full on garden party with someone playing drums. I want to go back to my weekend away now please.

Well if your DH is using a jet wash instead of sleeping for his night shift that isn't going to help you persuade yourself neighbours that you need quiet on a Sunday.

Can't you just have a grown up talk with them about how long the services are going to be held in their garden and if they can look for alternative premises?

If it was a one off it wouldn't bother me but their activity has been ramping up and I'm hoping this won't now be a weekly thing

How many times has it happened before?

Well if your DH is using a jet wash instead of sleeping for his night shift that isn't going to help you persuade yourself neighbours that you need quiet on a Sunday

Shouldn't really come into it. Regular occurances with a PA system disturbing neighbours...

Tell them to look up the concept of a silent disco and apply it to their garden church!

Technically they can do what ever they want 28 days a year ... (without planning required for change of use). How often are they doing it?

Regular occurances with a PA system disturbing neighbours...

I read the op thinking that this is the first time it’s happened. Have I misunderstood something?

I got the impression it's not the first time, but it might be more developed today than it was before

"Activity ramping up recently"

Well if your DH is using a jet wash instead of sleeping for his night shift that isn't going to help you persuade yourself neighbours that you need quiet on a Sunday

We've just come back from a weekend away, he's on annual leave.

This is the first full church service (which is still going on btw). They always play loud music, have recently had a graduation party with another PA system and fireworks for about 100 people, and have a bi annual church BBQ for about 50 (had notice of this the first year, never since).

I started this post because Google wasn't giving me the answers I needed. Now I'm forewarned and forearmed if this becomes a weekly occurrence, which is what I am worried about.

Exactly this. I try to be live and let live, but we aren't able to have the windows open or sit in the garden when they're at it. It's literally like the music and speeches are coming from my own house.

Jet wash the marquee for them. During the service.

🤣🤣 "oops so sorry I've slipped several times".

Now an ice cream van has turned up!