Page 3 | AIBU to tell you that I'm "Church Noise Lady" and I think it might finally be over....

alittlequinnie · 2023-05-22T12:41:09+00:00

I posted a thread on here before Covid about the excessive noise at the church directly opposite my house. There were varied opinions but I had quite a lot of sympathy as it was a 7th Day Adventist service on a Saturday with amplified preaching, a full day of services and about 80-100 people hanging around in the street from 9.30 am to 6.30 pm every Saturday of the year. The preaching was loud enough to be heard inside my house even with the windows shut - yet alone the music. Just to update - we had a Council meeting and it was attended by the Methodist Church (who were renting the Church to the 7DA on Saturdays) and the Council but not the 7DA. We agreed a way forward and they put signs up about being respectful to neighbours etc but nothing really changed. We were just getting ready to engage the Council again when Covid hit and the Church was closed. When it re-opened last year things went from bad to worse and we were faced with all the same issues again. I emailed the Council and found an email address for the Church Secretary and emailed the Council for advice and copied in the Church Secretary. (I also copied in the main Methodist Minister for the area - who had been at the initial meeting) Was expecting a long road of noise diaries etc and probably no response from the Council but I got a response from both - the most surprising one was from the Church Secretary - who said that she had had no idea that there were ongoing complaints still and that nobody had told her. It seems that we were talking to the person who opened the Church doors etc and to the people at the 7DA but nobody was actually passing this on! Long story short - the 7DA Lease has ended and the Methodist Church is not renewing it. They are having a coffee and cake morning for the "neighbours" - there's only 3 of us - to formally apologise for the last 11 years! I often see my thread mentioned so wanted to update - and also to give some encouragement to anybody going through the same thing.

BrightYellowDaffodil · 22/05/2023 15:57

I remember your thread and I'm so glad it's been resolved. I've had noisy neighbours and inconsiderate church neighbours (thankfully not both at once) and I really felt for you.

MonumentalLentil · 22/05/2023 16:00

I thought of you a while ago when I saw a church reported in the press for this, and wondered if it was that one. If not, it seems to happen far too often.

gavisconismyfriend · 22/05/2023 16:21

Well done and thank you for updating - great to hear a good outcome even if it has taken an unbelievably long time!!!!

WhatADrabCarpet · 22/05/2023 16:22

Yayyy!

UsingChangeofName · 22/05/2023 16:40

Oh, I remember your thread too.
I am glad to hear that - finally - it has been resolved, although disappointed that it has taken so long.
Hopefully all resolved now, but don't forget the Methodist Church have a hierarchal structure if you have issues communicating with them in the future. Ministers move on as do all the people holding the voluntary posts - so feasibly different contact details might be needed from time to time.

drspouse · 22/05/2023 16:41

Am I the only one who thinks this is a bit sad for the church?
The 7DA apparently weren't even told they were making too much noise and were just evicted without any warning?
It would be possible, wouldn't it, to say no amplified voices, or no amplification at all, or a limited time for music? So that they could have a service (reduced in volume) and then socialised for the other portion of time without loud noise.
I know a lot of evangelical churches have a specific ethnic makeup and people come from far and wide to meet up with friends from home as well as to attend services. It's a shame they don't get to meet friends/family now.

When I lived overseas and in East London there were a lot of amplified churches. One I remember in particular overseas used a school building on a Sunday which wasn't in a residential area so though it was very loud to attend (once and once only for me! and for several of my local friends who used to make fun of it) nobody had to listen to it normally. East London was of course very crowded but the Sunday services made it feel lively at a time that was normally dead as the grave.

I hope they have been able to find a new home without disturbing anyone else.

DingsBum · 22/05/2023 16:49

drspouse · 22/05/2023 16:41

Am I the only one who thinks this is a bit sad for the church?
The 7DA apparently weren't even told they were making too much noise and were just evicted without any warning?
It would be possible, wouldn't it, to say no amplified voices, or no amplification at all, or a limited time for music? So that they could have a service (reduced in volume) and then socialised for the other portion of time without loud noise.
I know a lot of evangelical churches have a specific ethnic makeup and people come from far and wide to meet up with friends from home as well as to attend services. It's a shame they don't get to meet friends/family now.

When I lived overseas and in East London there were a lot of amplified churches. One I remember in particular overseas used a school building on a Sunday which wasn't in a residential area so though it was very loud to attend (once and once only for me! and for several of my local friends who used to make fun of it) nobody had to listen to it normally. East London was of course very crowded but the Sunday services made it feel lively at a time that was normally dead as the grave.

I hope they have been able to find a new home without disturbing anyone else.

Have you read this thread, or any of the OPs previous threads? The 7DAs were told many many many times that it was too loud, over many years!

QuickDuck · 22/05/2023 16:51

I was trying to find the previous threads to link @drspouse The church were very aware of the noise complaints.

drspouse · 22/05/2023 16:58

Ah now I'm sorry I misunderstood. It seemed from the above that only the Methodist church had been aware, not the 7DA.

It still seems a shame that they weren't being given limits (as I say, no amplified speech/sound limits/time limits seems like a start - to be perfectly honest they should be in place from the start of a rental!)

Nanny0gg · 22/05/2023 17:00

drspouse · 22/05/2023 16:41

Am I the only one who thinks this is a bit sad for the church?
The 7DA apparently weren't even told they were making too much noise and were just evicted without any warning?
It would be possible, wouldn't it, to say no amplified voices, or no amplification at all, or a limited time for music? So that they could have a service (reduced in volume) and then socialised for the other portion of time without loud noise.
I know a lot of evangelical churches have a specific ethnic makeup and people come from far and wide to meet up with friends from home as well as to attend services. It's a shame they don't get to meet friends/family now.

When I lived overseas and in East London there were a lot of amplified churches. One I remember in particular overseas used a school building on a Sunday which wasn't in a residential area so though it was very loud to attend (once and once only for me! and for several of my local friends who used to make fun of it) nobody had to listen to it normally. East London was of course very crowded but the Sunday services made it feel lively at a time that was normally dead as the grave.

I hope they have been able to find a new home without disturbing anyone else.

Yes, you are as you obviously don't know the background.

This has been going on for years and no-one has done anything about it and the 7DA didn't care about the neighbours. They ABSOLUTLEY were told - what makes you think they weren't?

They made a) no attempt to reduce the noise and then
b) got worse!

They can find somewhere where they don't upset the neighbours to meet friends and family!

Puzzledandpissedoff · 22/05/2023 17:00

It turns out as well that for the last year or so the 7DA have just been given keys to the Church so nobody knew when they were there late, or on Sunday afternoons too - or that they were not packing up and leaving at 4 o'clock as they were supposed to!

Even more reason - as a PP said - to ask how they're going to monitor the use of the premises in future ...

Nanny0gg · 22/05/2023 17:01

drspouse · 22/05/2023 16:58

Ah now I'm sorry I misunderstood. It seemed from the above that only the Methodist church had been aware, not the 7DA.

It still seems a shame that they weren't being given limits (as I say, no amplified speech/sound limits/time limits seems like a start - to be perfectly honest they should be in place from the start of a rental!)

Don't you think they were? They took no notice!

The OP referenced her previous thread so you're a bit late to the party

RunAwayTurnAwayRunAwayTurnAway · 22/05/2023 17:10

Has Lockheart come along yet to admonish you for creating a TAAT? S/he usually does!

Interesting update. I wonder how the methodist church plans to recoup the lost income.

All I want now is an update on the iPhone found in a very very isolated garden from the start of lockdown. It didn't belong to anyone in the household, apparently.

Clymene · 22/05/2023 17:12

Oh that's such good news! And no sympathy for the 7DA at all. They made the OP's life an absolute misery

Puzzledandpissedoff · 22/05/2023 17:17

The 7DA apparently weren't even told they were making too much noise and were just evicted without any warning?

You might want to check out the original thread, drspouse - I think someone linked it?

They were told numerous times about the noise, and far from being evicted without notice it's simply that the term of their lease has come to an end (which presumably they'd have known)

Spidertights · 22/05/2023 17:19

What a lovely update! I'm so pleased for you! 🍰🧁

FortofPud · 22/05/2023 17:22

I hope this thread doesn't turn into the last ones where every second person pipes up to say hold on you moved next door to a church didn't you? Then they read the backstory and return to say they agree after all. It uses up 85% of the thread hashing that out

DeadbeatYoda · 22/05/2023 19:05

That's great news. Brilliant to see a positive outcome.

FergalforPM · 22/05/2023 19:11

i remember the threads - so pleased for you OP.

AWhaleSwamBy · 23/05/2023 00:44

That's brilliant news.

IGoWalkingAfterMidnight · 25/05/2023 16:51

I was only thinking about you again the other day so I’m very pleased for you that you’re able to post this update.

Long may peace reign!

CeratopsofthePharoahs · 25/05/2023 17:26

Hopefully you will have some peace on earth now op and the SDA's can manage their great disappointment without going and inflicting the loudness on another residential area.

Roseandrose20 · 25/05/2023 18:00

I opened this thinking it would be the Sistine chapel wailer but alas, very pleased for you however OP great result