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.

I'm an atheist but used to go to things like the Church Summer fete as there was no religious stuff going on, it was just a fete that happened to be organised by the Church rather than anyone else, like the school for example. I stopped going when the old vicar left as his replacement turned it into a more religious thing and insisted that we all prayed during the opening and the church choir would be singing hymns.

Hi local coe church seems to me doing well. The hall is used for a playgroup, creche and seniors lunch. I'm not a believer but christmas, easter and harvest festival were also really fun growing up.
I suppose the question is, do you want to raise your congregation of true believers or do you want to to create a thriving community that supports your local area?
Churches and their halls are often fantastic spaces. Could you provide the space for music, cinema, libraries, speaking events? Also organising charity donations.

I am the sort of occasional agnostic church goer you might be targeting. Used to take the children to the family service and enjoyed that - everyone was friendly. I have moved and went a few times somewhere local. Again they were really friendly and not judgmental. I have stopped going because we do something else on a Sunday morning now and having not been for so long I feel a bit embarrassed to go back.

I like good traditional hymns that I know and a liberal sermon and the sense of community. Would go to a well advertised carol service especially if I knew it would be busy - a small congregation would put me off but it is a viscous circle. Also I am always a bit scared by having to do ‘the peace’. Just not what I am used to.

I was at a recording of songs of praise recently with modern songs right out of my comfort zone but it was great because there were so many of us there and I think the music is the best bit.

I would also be put off by anyone trying to get me to come to bible study or prayer groups etc.

I agree completely. I went to church as a kid and have sporadically went to different churches over the years. I want to sit in a pew and sing hymns I actually know. Not be forced to sit on a chair and listen to a "praise band" murdering songs I don't know and which are impossible to sing.

I'm an atheist, haven't stepped foot inside a church for many years and have never been to another religion's place of worship as I don't believe in any of the gods. I've been to community events to support my friend's church when they had family fetes with stalls and bouncy castles etc for the DC when they were little. They would advertise them on lots of the local Facebook groups and made it clear that it was for everyone and that there wouldn't be any service or prayers etc

My mother in law's one that I mentioned upthread (low numbers, crap advertising) is Baptist.

I would stop holding fun days, etc. I think folk view them with suspicion, thinking that they're just a front to recruit new members... which I believe that's what they probably are. When you hold these events can you honestly say that it's just for the event and not hoping to recruit new members?

If you actually want new church members you need to encourage folk that are actually contemplating, say, the meaning of their lives, etc. I think the Alpha courses are still well attended. Perhaps focus on holding them?

I'm an athiest by the way - so just commenting on your post really.

There is a huge difference between going to a church service and a community BBQ which I think might have been @elliejjtiny 's point (apologies if I am wrong).
The amount of Mumsnetters who hire the local church hall for birthday parties can't surely be all church goers?🤔

I was taken to a Cof E church most weeks growing up so most of it is in my comfort zone but I do sometimes think that if I was trying it out from brand new I would think it was very bizarre indeed and probably not go back.

I think the reputation of churches has suffered a lot in recent years, quite reasonably, due to abuse scandal after abuse scandal, from the failure to deal with Pilivachi to the reasons behind the resignation of the last Archbishop of Canterbury. Not to mention incidents involving misuse of donations…

But I think there still can be optimism and willingness on a local level, especially where a church is doing good work in the local community.

I generally attend at Christmas and sometimes go to community events like church open days.

What attracts me:

A no-pressure and non-religious event

Some elements of history - church tours or seeing historical records

Friendliness - it should be made clear to members of the congregation that an open event isn’t just an opportunity to talk to their own church mates. There is nothing worse than walking into a hall full of tight circles and turned backs - this happened to me at a church event that was held out in the community. I had arrived with optimism but left feeling like a bloody outsider. Be willing to mingle if you actually want new members!

Finally, proper home made cakes. Naff packaged biscuits really don’t cut it.

I also think it can be a mistake to have door greeters as often they turn into ‘door blockers’! Several times I have just arrived and want to get to my seat, come in out of the cold, find the loo etc and have to answer several intrusive questions about where I have come from and what has brought me here today… Just have a welcome table a little bit further inside the door.

Some do free beer.

Ok MollyMollyMandy33 all the clergy i have met.

A good choir - singing traditional songs well

I presume the fetes, etc. are also for the existing members to come together and even if they want to recruit new members, they can also do that if they want to.

I totally disagree with focusing on the Alpha courses, which I'm a bit sceptical of anyway.

Music often attracts people.
At one church I went to for a while there was a really energetic music director, thriving choir for children and adults, organ scholars, concerts with big 'set-piece' religious music (St Matthew Passion, Christmas Oratorio etc). It really helped make the church a place where people went frequently (often several times a week for practices!).
Easter egg hunts and Christingles have been popular at other small churches in my locality.
Sunday school also helps because some vaguely agnostic people who had a Christian upbringing may want to bring their children to it.

I agree that an Alpha course of a very specific sort of theology that may not fit your church. Great if it does but it would put me off.

Aparently it’s the evangelical and orthodox churches that are growing at the moment. I guess those of us liberals don’t feel we have to go to church any more.

I think old fashioned advertising is the way to go - posters everywhere you can get them. Advertise on local Facebook groups as much as you can too.

Just advertising on your own church Facebook page means people have to be checking that out to find the events .....

I used to be involved in a church, and found events that provide activities for children are the most popular. People with younger kids are always looking for things to entertain them, and this those are free or the cost is small, even better!

And I disagree that people HAVE to be religious to want to attend. Some people will come for the community aspect. And some parents with no beliefs themselves will still be happy for their children to be exposed to faith-based events, so that they can make their own choices when they are older.

Yes, of course the church members might enjoy them but the OP wants to attact new members to the church.

They've tried the fetes, etc and no-one comes. Why would you keep doing the same thing? You're going to get the same results.

You may not like Alpha courses but they've proved successful over many years bringing people into the church. It's free to choose whether to attend but you'd obviously know exactly what it was that you're about to attend. It would probably only attract those who are already inquisitive.

In my view it's worth the OP giving it a try rather than keep failing.

And I'm still loosely Christian (though not a big fan of organised religion any more) but would avoid any church offering the Alpha course, as it's very evangelical/conservative and I am deeply opposed to it's teaching. I don't think I am alone in this.

"They've tried the fetes, etc and no-one comes. Why would you keep doing the same thing? You're going to get the same results."

They can advertise more widely.

The Alpha course is a very specific things, mainly for people who are already religious I'd say, more than just curious.

Yes, it's not just me personally who's not keen on the Alpha course.

Well yes, that's two of you!

I’ve been to those adult silent raves 😭

churches are incredible buildings. I think the only way to keep them is to use them for other purposes. You aren’t going to persuade a secular country to come to Sunday service

You get out into your community and serve them without any requests to preach in the process. You consistently demonstrate yourselves to be safe, open and inclusive people and you look at what way your church structure upholds that. For example, i wouldn't go to a church where women are allowed to speak but not hold leadership positions or where people of other faiths, ethnicities or sexualities would be commented on even behind their backs. (These being the key reasons why I've left churches in the past).

Are you running mums and tots groups? Food banks? Holiday clubs? School uniform drives? You need to look at the area your church serves, identify the key priority needs in that area and then work to meet that need. One previous church I used to attend was in a really underprivileged neighbourhood and they used to lock the doors incase any of the locals came in during the service.

You also need to recognise that you're working against the really negative experiences people will have had with 'the church' as a collective.

I went twice over Christmas for carol services, and once for a Gdds’ lovely school Nativity, which was held in the local church - and was packed.

I sometimes think I’d like to attend an old fashioned Evensong, with trad hymns, but not the sort where you’re expected to interact with anyone else, or where anyone’s going to be asking ‘friendly’ (nosy) questions.