How long has it been since you last went to church?

[EllaInGrace]

Hi everyone,
This has been on my mind lately, and I’m genuinely curious to hear how others feel.
I’ve noticed that many Christians I know — including myself sometimes — have gradually stopped going to church regularly. For some, it’s the busyness of life, for others, maybe it’s disappointment, change of priorities, or simply drifting away without realising.
Life can get so full — work, parenting, everything — and sometimes, faith quietly slips into the background. It’s not always intentional, but suddenly we realise: it’s been weeks, months, maybe years since we last stepped into a church.
I wanted to ask:
How long has it been since you last went to church?
What made you stop, if you did? Or what’s helped you stay connected?
I’m not here to judge at all — I’d just love to open an honest conversation and hear different experiences.
Thank you for reading. 😊

Too long. I’ve completely lost faith in the COE, which I used to love and support.

I am seriously trying to convert to Catholicism, I find the new Pope an inspiration, but it is hard as I am not very mobile, so can’t attend a suitable Church or chaplaincy. Does listening and participating in broadcast services count? I would so like to think so, so it would be two days ago.

Thursday. I’m catholic and kids at 3 different catholic schools. I’m there a lot!

Some months. Due to having special needs kids who don't settle well in church. We always talk about Jesus and God and play worship music. Read bible and Christian books and follow a lot of Christian content creators to make up for it.

I take my remaining parent in a couple of times a year to light a candle for my deceased parent. Sitting in the church where I spent so many hours as a child is uncomfortable. My sibling won't even go inside. We were raised in the catholic faith.

I have an intense dislike of organised religion as it has caused so much harm. I think everyone should be free to believe (or not) what they want without having religion forced on them.

For the faith I was brought up, Roman Catholicism, my mother's funeral in the mid-2000s. In fact, always funerals. I haven't been on my own account since my teen years.

For other churches, a colleague's funeral last year.

A month or two physically.
It’s a busy time of year, limited mass times .
BUT I listen to mass online 3+ times a week.

Last week. Going this morning to Mass @8.30

I was in a Church 2 years ago for my Aunts funeral and apart from various other funerals no Church visits for over 30years when I was 'forced' every Sunday at boarding school - but I was paid £1.50 (I think) every week for singing in the choir while dressed in cassocks etc. A few years prior we went to mainland Europe and sang in Sacre Coer and Notre Dam and Colougne Catherdal (we had to pay to go thou - lots of £1.50's needed!). I have no interest in any religion but I love the buildings, the music, the organs especially - especially Colougne Cathedral - amazing!) - the coming together of people - just the God bit is the issue. I often get invited to Christmas Mass etc, last week it was the Solstice at 4.30am to see the sunrise but it is so hypocritical so I always refuse even though there'd be a good crowd there. I always wonder what the vicar thinks when theres 100+ at an occasion and only 10 on a normal Sunday. So many of my (atheist) friends baptise their children just for a good party afterwards which always annoys me even thou it doesn't affect me directly.

Having said all of this whilst at school I was baptised and confirmed just because it was the 'thing to do' and this was by Rowan Williams - the Archbishop of Canterbury which makes for a good story. So I am a hypocrite as well.

We were dragged up as CoE but our choir was popular so we were used to sing at a lot of Catholic weddings which was a very solemn event (and a little drawn out!) compared to our usual events. No offence intended obviously. It was always a lovely occasion. We sang in Cologne Cathedral on a concert tour which was staggering, a superb building, the organ is one of the biggest in Europe and even though it was a service when we finished we got a round of applause which was surprising,

Christmas Eve, it’s the only time I go except for a funeral or wedding.

Apart from a funeral three years ago , I haven’t been to church for years.
was made to go to Sunday school, church services and so on as a child,
(CofE), sent to a RC secondary school (a miserable 7 years).
I did go to church regularly when I was first married but the hypocrisy of my MIL (church 3 times a week and never a good word to say about anyone) and others was sickening.
I’m now firmly an atheist.

Hahaha!

Once a week for me. I started going back a few years ago and I feel much better for it. But I have a funny relationship with the people there – they’re lovely but can get quite intense about their faith, and seem to be very committed to church life, and while that’s in a way exactly the vibe I want from a church (ie to be challenged rather than comforted) it isn’t me at all and isn’t ever likely to be.

I don’t know what to do about that. I like the challenge, but part of me can also see it becoming a problem as time goes by.

Last Sunday. I now go most weeks.

Every week. I sing in the choir.

I don't go to funerals or weddings in churches.

Couple of weeks ago - Church Parade as I'm a Squirrels leader.
I stopped going regularly as I was made to feel very unwelcome by a specific group of people, I miss it and I'm sad as when I go now as it doesn't feel like home the way it used to. I've considered finding a new church but I've been going to my current one my whole life. I'm just not part of it anymore. 😞

Two weeks ago - was away for a non-religious wedding last week.
Will maybe go today (depends if I can get a lift) otherwise will go next week.

We probably go 3 out of 4 Sundays.

13 hours. I go every week to the vigil mass. Last week we had a thing on Sunday afternoon as well. Leaving ones sense of God out of it, being in a quiet space with other people for 40 minutes or so is a calm and pleasant interlude in the week.

Just remembered we are away next weekend too. Maybe once or twice a month is more accurate in the summer!

It has been a couple of months since I went to a service (they move to 6pm in the lighter months and that isn't a good time for us on a Sunday as we are sorting out dinner and getting ready for school the next day). However I run the church's children's groups, am on the PCC and am the safeguarding officer so am in the church a lot.

I am struggling with the things I do because I really dislike the vicar, she is just so rude. If I didn't care so much about the kids I would step back.

I also get very frustrated with the fact that the wider church body owns our church and we have to seek permission to do anything but they refuse to pay for essential repairs and expect us to solve this. It is their asset they should pay for it.

Easter Sunday but this thread has reminded me it's Latin Mass at the local Cathedral which I quite fancy going to so I'll go tonight if I have time.

I haven’t been in a while. I think I am a lapsing catholic…
it’s hard

Very similar situation for us. Change of leadership after ten years. Felt we had to leave. Would have been easy for DC and I to stop going as DH a non believer, but I desperately want him to have the grounding in Christianity that I had so it's always there for him. So we speed-dated a few other churches and found one we like. Try to go every Sunday, including last week, but it often ends up being three out of four. I don't think it helps promote churchgoing to DC if it prevents them eg going to a birthday party etc.

Funnily enough, last night. Before that, around 2/3 years ago I stopped going regularly.

A funeral a few months ago. I was raised as a Catholic but the scandals and hypocrisy of the church have shocked me to the core and I can no longer call myself one. I love the buildings, rituals and music but I can’t separate them from the horror the church has caused.