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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Noisy church next door driving me crazy

59 replies

Marbles321 · 02/06/2018 00:55

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.

OP posts:
TheFirstMrsOsmond · 02/06/2018 10:41

We have lived next door to a church for 20 years. I don't mind the Sunday services or the clock chiming on the hour every hour.... but the bell ringing practice on a Thursday evening for two and a half hours is unbelievably noisy, we can't hear ourselves think Grin (it wouldn't be so bad if they were any good!)

DonttouchthatLarry · 02/06/2018 10:46

I can't believe the council can't/won't do anything about this - we moved because our neighbours complained to the council about our dogs barking, in the daytime while we were out. We never left them alone in the evenings or night so it was never at a really unsociable time but we had letters and phone calls from the council that stated we had to do something to reduce the noise. (The woman who lived there after us was taken to court over the same issue). I can't imagine we would have been allowed to get away with noise at midnight or later, so why are they? Ask the council for some monitoring equipment and keep a (preferably video) diary.

ToadOfSadness · 02/06/2018 10:51

I viewed a house next to a graveyard and church hall some years ago. Was told that it was C of E (fine, nice and quiet) but that it was also used by other religious groups. Was pleased to be informed as it made me aware that it might not be as peaceful as one might think.

If you don't get anywhere why not contact the newspaper and find out if they would be interested in a follow up, or show the article to the leader of the church community.

AntiHop · 02/06/2018 11:01

Op it's not acceptable and I feel for you.

chocolatemademefat · 02/06/2018 11:27

Complain to environmental health asap. Don’t leave it until your baby’s here and constantly disturbed as well. Surely a church - full of Christians - will understand there has to be a cut off point. I’m sure they’re lovely people and you don’t want to spoil their enjoyment of their worship but you need to have a quality of life too.

No need to suck it up. Good luck.

NotMeNoNo · 02/06/2018 15:13

DH says the council can enforce a noise order and if they don't comply they may get shut down. They would have to comply with conditions like maybe having a noise limiter. This isn't a quick process.

Suggest following up at the council during the working week and speak to someone who knows what they are talking about. This won't be the first or last such complaint. You need to be clear it's a long term ongoing issue which is why evidence from neighbours is helpful. I don't think it's a race issue, nobody is trying to shut them down but they need to find other premises or limit their noise.

SimonBridges · 02/06/2018 15:22

I can’t believe the people saying that the op shouldn’t have moved next to a church.
If she was complaining about loads of people pitching up on a Sunday morning then fair enough but no one would expect 1am.
I don’t care who they are they can knob off with that.

nolongerblue · 02/06/2018 15:30

Can't believe people blaming OP for moving next to a church. I used to go to an evangelical church and I had no idea there were churches having noisy services at bloody midnight and later. Unless you have experience of such a church why would it be on your radar at all that some churches are like this? I used to live next to a church and it never occurred to me when I bought to think it would cause late night noise.

RockinHippy · 02/06/2018 18:29

Not acceptable at all & if EHL are being so unhelpful, get your local councillor on board to help. They deal with local issues as this is. Do look up their "CV" online to see which of your councillors have the most relevant experience to suit what you need. We've found once they get involved p, the council gets a rocket up it's bum & sorts things out fast. Good Luck

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