Noisy church next door driving me crazy

[Marbles321]

Hi all. I'm awake at 1am because the church next door has woken me up again with one of their noisy services.

It's an African church, and they hold extremely loud services - loudspeakers, singers, preaching - at ridiculous hours of the night (and early morning).
Not to mention the members of the congregation coming and going and shouting and laughing all the time.

DP and I have spoken to them (politely) several times, not so politely a couple of times, and called the council on several occasions (have just done so now) but they don't seem to ever stop their behaviour.

I'm heavily pregnant and exhausted and tbh I'm tearing my hair out and nor sure what to do. Not sure if I'm over reacting but surely we have the right to be in our homes and relax and get a decent night's sleep?!

Just venting really but would appreciate any advice from anyone who's successfully dealt with similar noisy neighbours.

Ooft that’s late. Keep a diary of all the anti-social noise. Hope you manage to get some rest before the baby comes!

I am sorry for you, but why on EARTH did you move next door to an obviously very active Church?!

I ask myself that question all the time!!! Thing is....its not active AT ALL during normal hours, except Sunday's, so we didn't witness any of this in all the times we viewed the house. It was always very peaceful.
It also seems to be a lot worse in the warmer months, so the last few weeks have been terrible.
Obviously in hindsight we should have spoken to neighbours or similar. Too late now, and I'm kicking myself tbh!

I feel your pain. Also live by what is a children's centre but bizarrely on Sundays (luckily just Sundays)there are church services inside. Preaching loud singing all Sunday drives me mad as it s very early in the morning!

Complain to the Environmemtal Health Department. Also check with planning? Might there be restrictions?

See if any of your neighbours are bothered by it too and, if so, get them to complain.

It sounds awful.

Loudspeakers here aswell. The other day they were banging drums all morning.

I will look at the planning permissions - that's a good idea. I also wonder whether they are legally allowed to use loudspeakers, I'm guessing not??? They behave like a pub or music venue half the time but i very much doubt they have an entertainment license! Might give citizens advice bureau a ring.

I moved opposite a church in London. 15 years ago it was light praising on a Sunday morning. Then the Baptist church pitched up. Drums, screeching, loudspeakers, shouting preachers until midnight on a Sunday. All day Saturday. Couldn't hear the TV!

I complained to the council. How the hell could that be okay when local pub licence insisted everyone be indoors by 9pm and a local music venue was banned from making any noise that could be heard outside lest anyone be disturbed

Got them shut down within 3 weeks.

You chose to move next o an active church -caveat emptor.
They were there before you, so you need to suck it up or move.

Naked avenger thats amazing!!! How didnu manage that?! There seems to be so much red tape but what they are doing just can't be legal, it's simple as that. We are in London too, and of course expect a certain amount of noise in zone 2, but this is totally unreasonable. And like you say, some weekends they are at it from Friday night through to Sunday night, no stop.

“You chose to move next o an active church -caveat emptor.
They were there before you, so you need to suck it up or move.”

Nonsense.

It’s not like the OP is complaining about hymns being sung on a Sunday morning.

This is antisocial noise @ 1am.

OP I used to live next to a church / social venue which was a popular venue for wedding receptions that seemed to go on past midnight, with full band, and in a residential area.

As advised, keep a diary and call your local noise team, every single time. Speak to your neighbours and see if you can convince them to do the same. Perhaps write a letter too.

Well what do you expect, living next to a bloody church.

Well what do you expect, living next to a
bloody church.

Not loudspeakers at 1 am! It’s a church, not a nightclub.

The noise does sound excessive but the moral of this story is...when thinking of buying a house, view and visit at all times of the day. If I wanted a quiet life, I don't think I would consider buying a property next to a church, school, pub, shop or business of any kind. I'd see if you can sell to one of the congregation and cut your losses!!

Quizqueen, don't you mean visit at all time of the day AND NIGHT. Why not rent a camper and move on to the street for a good couple of weeks, and repeat through all seasons.
Poor OP has said it's not during the day other than a Sunday which is reasonable, it's worse in summer months, but it's currently going on at 1am! Who would visit where they are planning on moving to at 1am? We drove through at 9, and possibly 11 just because we were passing but didn't check every day of the week, for weeks on end.

OP keep complaining. Each and every time.

Thanks for the support everyone. I admit it's a fine line to tread - we try to be respectful of them and we are ok with the noise during the day, as it's to be expected. Services and a noisy congregation after midnight and into the early hours is something else though. We will keep up the complaints for the night noise for sure.

I'm a lawyer so I did a load of research about licensing etc and noise legislations etc. Did a decibel check at particular times. Kept a diary. Videoed the racket. Argued the inconsistency between the music venue and this. Said the church should be the same as the music venue as it was the same entertainment etc. In fact it's worse. As someone says above you move next to a pub or music venue you expect noise. Move opposite a CoE church I expect some hymns not midnight screaming into a microphone.

Loudspeakers, singing and preaching at 1am in the morning? Where are you?!
I used to live in a village growing up and you'd get your midnight services and church bells chiming the hour through the night.
Loudspeakers though? No.
Think more clarification is needed as that sounds unlikely.

How about joining the church? You might enjoy it!

@CadyHeron more clarification? Why is it unlikely? This is an inner London baptist church not Midsomer

CadyHeron we are in South East London.

Just meant loudspeakers,singing and preaching at 1am seemed unlikely!
There's usually a curfew on noise after certain times.
If it was just bells chiming/ringing into the early hours then there's nothing wrong with that.
Loud singing at 1am though is a bit more of a problem if that's what you're saying.
(Even though you're opposite a church and place of worship)
but can see why it would be more of one.

People saying suck it up. So if you moved next door to a loud neighbour that was there before you do you have to suck it up?

OP isn't asking for silence. She expects noise from a church especially on a Sunday. However having loud noise at 1am isn't acceptable.

How about joining the church? You might enjoy it!
Yes im aure heavily pregnant op would love to go join them at 1am.
Some of the comments!
Yes its a church but one in the morning? Would people really expect loud sounds at that time?
She can do checks on the house as much as possible but when the noise is taking place in the early hours...
I’d complain to environment health, absolutely.
Keep a diary of every single thing and take videos.

Keep a diary and speak to the council again. They can have some sort of enforcement action.

DH installs sound systems in churches (sorry!) in the past he has had to put in kill switches (the mains power) that operate when the fire doors are opened, decibel limiters, timers, sound proofing, all sorts of things insisted on by the environmental health. Similar to pubs and nightclubs. So it must be possible. Some churches get carried away with their programme they might have a vague leadership structure such that the message isn't really getting through if the council are being wishy washy. They are not blessing anyone behaving like that!

You could also try a strongly worded letter to the church leader saying that you are sending a formal written complaint to the council. Are any other neighbours up for joining you?