What would make you want to go to a church event (or what makes you not want to go?)

[elliejjtiny]

Either Sunday services, special ones like carol services or social events.

I'm just wondering as our church numbers are dwindling at the moment as a few of the elderly people have died recently, a couple of families have left and nobody new has come for years.

We used to get quite a few people come for our carol service and for the family fun day (barbeque, games and a bouncy castle) but now hardly anyone comes to those things either.

We've got a facebook page which gets lots of views. I'm just wondering if there was anything we could be doing differently. It's a bit depressing when you organise an event and hardly anyone comes.

Im an atheist i would only go to church for weddings and funerals. The clergy from the CofE all come from a particular class.
The whole thing about king charles being chosen by god, do me a faviour.
All the other churches also have their wierd ideas. No thanks.

No we don't or I served with glergy from all classes.

A good director of music and a proper vicar are a good start. Something for families is always a plus.

Our current vicar is nice but it's very much a job for him working his way up. Our last vicar was really brilliant and focused on families. Anyway the church has around 50-120 people on Sundays so a nice congregation but nothing on for children/young people at the moment.

I am an atheist, as is my husband. He has recently started bell ringing and, as relative newcomers to the village, we are enjoying getting to know people through the ringers' circle. Our Vicar is welcoming to those of all faiths and none and is married to an atheist. We find the church goers welcoming and there is no pressure to believe. Yes, we go to social events and carol services and enjoy them. We don't go to Sunday services, husband rings and then leaves, and there is no pressure to do so.

Putting a poster in a shop window probably won't make people want to attend religious ceremonies, hymn singing or social events connected to a religion.

If they're religious and like attending a church, they'll already go, if they don't believe in that god or don't enjoy religious events, they won't go.
There would need to be a complete change on how to use the building and how to get people to use it as a community room etc. as getting people to believe in a religion is not going to happen.

What would appeal to people about the events?

They really don’t ‘all come from a particular class’. The clergy I know are so different and from very diverse backgrounds.

Hate religion. Love community. If anyone tries to get me to join the church that's a big no from me. Provided my beliefs are respected, I am open to a good coffee morning, carol service, charity fundraiser etc. I just don't want to do the whole god thing.

A nursery church running parallel for little ones to enjoy

Have you considered what other faiths are doing who have very healthy mixed ages congregations?

My local mosques and gurdwara are heaving with people attending.

In all honesty I wouldn’t go because I don’t believe in God, don’t understand any rules and it’s quite daunting. A church event just wouldn’t apply to me.

There's a disconnect between what Jesus preached eg 'it's easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the `kingdom of heaven' and the reality of a church headed by a billionaire, Charles.

Until this hypocrisy is tackled no one is going to think the Church of England is honest. /and /or worth supporting. No amount of fetes etc will attract most people who have twigged this.

My dd, 19 has grown up atheist, non church schools etc, though involved in traditional singing which is all Christian. Since going to uni she's attended quite a few church events with a friend who is Christian. As far as I can see the draw for her as a student on a budget is the free food which seems to accompany these events. Eg bbq, brunch, cakes.

Why are people assuming @elliejjtiny 's church is Church of England?
She never said it was.

Our two local churches seem to be very popular.

One is a C of E church, that has a young vicar, with a young family. He is very into social media is often posting on local Facebook groups. The church do mail drops around Christmas and Easter to every house in the area. They really emphasise that the events are open to everyone.

The 2nd church is more more of a ‘happy clappy’ church. Not sure what religion it is. Their hall is used as a blood donation centre several times a year, so lots of people know of it. They have a coffee shop that is open to all. They also host lots of community groups including mother and toddler, men’s groups and teen clubs.

I think the community emphasis is actually more important than the faith.

I went along to a friendship group set up by some women from a church but not based at the church.
I went every week (which was a big thing as I'm disabled and going out for a few hours means days in bed).
They were the most unfriendly, judgemental people l have met. There was racist comments, comments about disabled people getting too much benefits, single parents, unemployed who cant be bothered to work, unmarried couples (you get the picture). I left and told them why. This is not the first time I've encountered this kind of behaviour from church people (I went to church from aged 0-22) but I think it was the final straw. Although they were not directed at me as a disabled single mother I felt very looked down upon.
I know all church people are not the same but when it happens a few times it puts my guard up.

This is exaxtly it for me. I just don't want anyone trying to convert me!

I don't know your particular church and I'm not CoE, but I'd imagine that's gone now. Churches are so desperate for people and young people in particular.

"If they're religious and like attending a church, they'll already go"

No, that's really not true. Plenty of people are occasional attenders. It's not all or nothing.

I'm anti monarchy, but this is really not the reason why people don't go to OP's church events!

Mention of Sunday services, carol services and dwindling congregations. I work a lot with POWs of all types and all denominations. Other faiths aren’t suffering from low numbers, nor are other Christian denominations, in the main - Catholic congregations have been boosted by new members who have moved here from Eastern European communities, and other churches have been taken on by more Evangelical congregations which are also flourishing.

Sounds like it though.

I disagree completely that other Christian denominations aren't suffering from low numbers!

I’m not Christian/don’t believe in god…

If my DC are somehow involved I'll go. But I quite often rock up to these events, everyone talks to the other people they know, I'm lucky if someone makes eye contact with me.

Christmas .
A really inspiring vicar of either sex !!!

Turn offs - happy clappy , turning to hug someone nearby -urghhhhhh can't stand that !
'Modern christian music ,the type that a song blends into the next one and so on.
Any one that would oppose a female vicar.
Cliquey types who rule the roost.

I'm not really a fan of organised religion , but i do get peace from being in a church every now and then .