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.

@elliejjtiny personally I wouldn't do the goodie bags with the religious things in.
That does make it seem like the whole event is for advertising/recruiting for the church rather than just an event that's fun for the local community.
A family fun day (or whatever) could be kept neutral.

I’m not religious. I don’t go to our local church soft play/kids clubs because I feel like I would be taking the mick by going… I feel like it’s for Christian families or for families that are open to learning more about Christianity. So for me to come along and use their facilities or whatever in exchange for £2 would make me feel bad. Similarly, I wouldn’t turn up to mosque or synagogue family events for same reasons

Do you not find it incredibly depressing that your granddad went without to donate his money to the church?

I think it’s depressing too. On an institution that covered up crimes and certainly didn’t need his financial sacrifice 🥲

Sadly for the churches they’re not just events spaces… you need to believe in God and very few Brits do. Nor do we want to I’m afraid. Christianity is sexist :)

A lot of the time though they aren't about teaching the religion.
They are just a group using the space.
It's worth checking.

@elliejjtiny Art and craft events (could be themed around spirituality). Supper evenings, so getting to know and meet others in the community over a meal. Games nights - board games with refreshments or maybe a quiz. Film nights, if you have the equipment. Mother/daughter tea party with perhaps the participants baking the goods themselves. A men's breakfast morning. An open discussion day/evening on faith in general.

Presumably your grandfather believed in God. So he thought that paying in would help lead to an eternity in paradise. Most of the people saying they’d go to free church events do not believe in this… so they would only be going to get something from it in this life.

Not true.
My nearest CofE church uses their space for many events that are nothing to do with the church.

One local church to us puts up amazing scarecrows in the grassed part of the churchyard in the summer holidays, it’s lovely. One morning a week they do juice and biscuits for the kids too. I mean we’re not going to the services, but the churchyard is really busy with lots of families on sunny days and I think they raise a bit for the church as there’s a donation bucket. If I was going to attend church I’d probably go to that one!

Nothing to do with the church except that the event organisers are paying the church to use the space, thus profiting the Church of England.

Well there is that.
But most of that probably is for maintaining the building and paying the bills.

As a lapsed Catholic who lives in a city, rather than a town or a village, I have no idea how to get involved in something like that tbh. I couldn't ever seeing myself appear at the event unannounced and unknown.

PS one of my neighbours is a church warden type person and someone who is scarily efficient. I'm not remotely like that!

Other places of worship (not just Christian) I know also have space that's rented for non religious use.
I just think of a lot of the buildings as community centres really.

Pretty sure they're about the receive a fund worth £100m! They can pay their own bills...

This is exactly why I wouldn't go to something in a church advertised as a community event because ultimately, it is about enticing people to go on Sundays and I would be very uncomfortable with my DC getting those type of gifts especially if it was advertised as a community event.

Bible teaching. It’s not a circus, entertainment, cafe, gig. It’s church. I want to learn and grow and be challenged, and if I am, I will return. Nothing else is attractive!

The fact organised religion is involved. It’s pretty off putting to people who don’t appreciate the levels of abuse and death associated with it.

Good community events, that aren't overly religious. We would go to church for events for the kids, and although there was some religion throw in it wasnt forced. Theres a church in the next village and they are open to everyone even if you dont believe. The church is advertised as a space for everyone and I really like that.

I dont think party bags need to have bible items.

No idea.
I know the Baptist church my mother in law goes to is on the verge of falling down. Literally.
They already sold of some of the building so the rest of the crumbling building doesn't collapse into dust.

Gently, this simply isn’t true. A lot of people in this country do believe in God and millions of people (you can google the stats) attend a church regularly. Lots of others seem to be drawn to the church at times of difficulty or celebration.
I think that CofE membership actually shows a small
rise in recent times (it was declining) but there are many other non CofE churches and other Christian denominations in the UK who are thriving. Where I live in the south, we have several churches who are growing in membership. Our local church has about 300 each Sunday.
Also, I’d suggest that Christianity is the very opposite of sexist. I’m sure that it depends greatly on interpretation and biblical understanding, but as a Christian woman, I feel cherished and empowered by my faith and my church.

@Screamingabdabz

Atheists are welcome in CofE churches. If you live in that parish you are part of that church’s ‘cure of souls’ - they consider you their community whether you want it or not

...And a pair of elders from a C of E church two miles away from me got very short shrift when they turned up on my doorstep and introduced themselves smugly with, "You may not think of St Cuthbert's as your local church but you belong to us."

Maybe I am the only one on this thread who has interpreted what the OP is saying.
I thought she meant why aren't people attending events being run by the church - but not necessarily about the religious side.
If I saw a jumble sale advertised that's being held at a local church I wouldn't think of it as an "organised religion event". It's just a jumble sale.
Maybe I am wrong....🤔

@Needmorelego OP literally said she wanted to give children goodie bags with Bible themed things inside!

Only at one of the events.
She mentioned a chess club that uses their space. I doubt they get a goodie bag.