Smoking in church

[OonaStubbs]

Did this ever used to be commonplace? I can imagine it was legal just like smoking inside everywhere else was but did people actually used to do it?

Never seen it in my lifetime- I'm 61

I've never seen it. I have seen people nip out for one round the side, but never inside (60).

Never. Or at least, never in chapel or synagogue, which were the two places of worship I was dragged to.

I have never seen it and as pews have never been fitted with ash trays I don't think it would work.

We did have an alter boy fling around a censor during the Easter service once. The incense flew out into a pew and there was general consternation.

No I never saw anyone smoke in church. There was a general lighting up as soon as they exited, and fags were finished before wandering into the church hall for tea and biscuits 😁

No, it never happened.

I've seen folk knocking wine back but never smoking.

I'd imagine it would be banned simply due to fire risk. There's a lot of flammable materials in a church. I've never seen anyone doing it but I dont frequent churches that often. In fact I don't think smoking was really the done thing in any place of worship. I dont think it's allowed in Buddhist or Hindu temple? I've certainly never seen it there either.

I'm in my 60's and agree with others it was always considered disrespectful and not done. The only occasion I do remember was visiting St Paul's cathedral, around the 1980's and a fellow tourist lighting up in the gift shop. A staff member soon told him to put it out as he was still in a church.

Never! And in the past, people wore hats to church, and women getting married in church covered their shoulders ...

ETA: why do you ask, @OonaStubbs ?

Why are you asking OP?
I've never in my life seen people smoking in Church or heard of anyone doing it.

Never seen it and I’ve been in church weekly for over 50 years. Seen plenty of people skulking around the porch. There is an Alan Bennett’s story set in a church where one character seeing someone else put their cigarettes and lighter down on a pew says excitedly to her friend

You can smoke!’
‘I don’t think so.’
‘I see no signs saying not. Is that one?’
‘I think that’s one of the Stations of the Cross.’
‘Really? Well I’m sure I saw an ashtray as I was coming in.’
‘That was holy water.’

Well that’s going on the bucket list!

I think churches are usually full of lit candles so not sure the fire risk of smoking would be an issue.
But generally people in church had more respect, and just didn't light up inside.

Nope.

No never, my earliest memories of church are from the early 60's.
It would be very disrespectful, then and now.

Nope never but I did see someone light up at Regents Park open air theatre. They were very quickly told to put it out.

I never saw it growing up and wouldnt expect the regular congregation to do so and generally religious or not people used to have more respect for the church and authority.
It wouldn't suprise me now though if I saw guests vaping in a church if attending and waiting around for a wedding or similar to start, lots of people attend church less often now and generally have less concerns for the authority of churches etc and just do as they please, similarly mobile phone use which I think would have been frowned upon in the past.

I was brought up as a Catholic i have never seen it I'm 51.

Went to Catholic schools, never ever seen anyone smoke IN a Church

I don't recall seeing it ever.

In The West Wing a character lights up a cigarette in a cathedral as an act of rebellion (he's furious with God at this point). The scene wouldn't have worked if smoking in church were commonplace.

Definitely not. Same as I never saw anyone munching on a packet of crisps in the back pew.

I've never been aware of this happening. And I'm wondering why OP has asked.

There was a bit of ecclesiastical fuss when the ban on smoking indoors in public places came in & people were told to put up signs saying 'it is illegal to smoke on these premises etc etc'. Churches were ordered to put these up (IIRC), to general consternation.

@Seeline that's a very good point. I guess you never saw jesus smoking in the bible?! 🤣