To be surprised by whooping cheers in a cathedral?

[Cheerfullydesperate]

I was at a concert last week which was using a cathedral as a venue (a classical, not a religious concert). Performers were students. WIBU to clutch my pearls when the friends of those performing loudly whooped instead of politely clapping? It just seemed over the top and not particularly respectful of the religious setting.

Some church services express joy you know.

not all Christians take the “please shut up in church” approach.

Becoming more common . I hate that we are expected to clap at the choir just singing . Old school me thinking all church stuff should be solemn and quiet . But it's also time to let things evolve and change .

Our beautiful cathedral is now used for concerts, silent discos, performances, exhibitions etc.
It has had mixed reviews but sadly without the funds that sort of thing draws in its financial position would become very difficult.

I do agree with a bit of decorum. I was horrified at Christmas when our primary carol service was held there (too many children for the school hall). Parents chatting, keeping their hats on, passing sweets around like it was a bloody panto.

If you raised an eyebrow at that OP, you’d really hate christenings, weddings and ordinations 😊

Different demographic, and they weren’t there for Christian worship. And Church isn’t about polite clapping even for many faithful churchgoers: shouting, dancing, exuberant worship is a feature of lots of modern congregations. And many churches now hire out the space for other events: we go to Organoke at a church in Camberwell every Christmas which is just a jolly good Christmas songs singalong, which the church community is happy to put on for fundraising.

The church is a room that is used for all sorts. In medieval time, it would have been the height of business and noise, with people mingling and doing business throughout the week.

It wasn’t worship, it was a performance. Perfectly reasonable for the audience to express appreciation however they like. Within Normal concert behaviour rules, of course.

I was at a service last night and people were dancing and waving their arms about during the worship, including the Bishop. All good.

You mean women dared to keep hats on? Not just the men?

Frankly - they aren’t regular visitors so maybe cut them some slack? I think a non religious concert hosted by a church or cathedral isn’t a service so has different rules. At my church, a local choir mostly made up of retired people held a concert and their spouses stood up and cheered loudly too! And half of them attend the church! However, they all had a good evening and it didn’t offend anyone - they are still decent people! That's what counts.

When was the last time you visited a church, OP?

In this context, YABU

There wasn't any malice or disrespect, and it didn't impact negatively the concert, they cheered for their friends. It's ok for places of worship to be happy place!

I genuinely think god would be pleased to hear whooping and happiness in his house 😀 he’s quite modern these days I hear.

I often think God (of your choice) must be bored out of his/her head with what goes in most places of worship. In his/her place I would be knocking my head on a wall with the droning singing in most UK Christian churches and when the guitar strumming gets started, I be very tempted by the dark side.

Shout it from the rooftops I say! Joy is very much a part of faith. We should be proud and loud and jubilant! 🙌🙏

Keeping their hats on? Heaven forfend!

Churches can’t have it both ways. If they want to take the money of heathens for non religious events, then they have to accept that the audiences will not be church congregations, or act like one.

To many people it's just a fancy building. Cheering isn't going to damage the building so I can't see the concern. The Christian God sounds like a major sook to be honest.

Church behind me hosts 'battle of the bands' and many other things. Loads of teenagers thrashing out punk music, sneaking in drink... and they hold parties there too, weddings too.
All lively, all different, all helps pay the heating.

Keeping their hats on? In a cold cathedral. Horrendous. Next thing you’ll tell us there were ladies wearing (I can hardly type it the thought is so shocking…) trousers…! I hope all unmarried women in the congregation were chaperoned at least.

It’s a Cathedral. It’s about bringing people together. Neither your example or that of the OP were religious ceremonies so no need for deep godly reverence (if you must go in for that). Our local Cathedral costs something like £12,000 a day to maintain. They make films and TV programmes there, they have Christmas markets, and great community events, talks by authors hosted by the local and very brilliant local independent book shop, silent discos, and many other events, not to mention the hoards of tourists.

It keeps the building going, it helps pay the wages of staff and the costs of the choir. It’s great, it gets people in to see this wonderful, beautiful building. And, if some wear their hats or cheer at a performance, then good for them. Personally I’d rather have a well maintained historical building being used and seen and loved than some crumbling shell that can’t afford to go on and excludes all but the most sanctimonious of its congregation.

Well you’d be horrified to know that there’s sometimes whooping in our church services - and certainly clapping and dancing and laughter and joy. And also times of silence and solemnity. So definitely nothing wrong with encouraging friends at a concert - as long as it wasn’t during the actual playing as that would be annoying for others attending (in any venue).

We have beer festivals in our church , and a couple of years ago I watched a theatre production of Sister Act back in the habit, which involved actors dressed as nuns chasing each other up and down the aisle , get over yourself . It wasn’t a Sunday service .

Apparantly She (or perhaps 'they', given God is non binary, so possibly has neutral pronouns now?) loves Bowie, ABBA, Elvis and Northern soul if the concerts they've hosted lately are any guide.

I've been to rock/punk/indie gigs in my home city's cathedral. There was plenty of whooping. And a bar.

The church at the top of my street at my old house has also hosted:

• Indie gigs
• Jazz concerts
• Classical concerts
• A monthly goth club night
• A Viking combat reenactment group
• A sword-dancing folk dance club
• A film night

The vicar there actually did an interview years ago in the local press where he mentioned that historically, churches at many times were always used for secular things in addition to services and were not silent and hushed. They were often the only decent-sized building where people could gather and therefore held parties, feasts, performances by travelling players, public meetings and debates, the lot. They were not quiet and solemn places - during actual services, sure. But not at other times.

I was horrified at Christmas when our primary carol service was held there (too many children for the school hall). Parents chatting, keeping their hats on, passing sweets around like it was a bloody panto.

'Horrified' 😂

There is absolutely no religious reason why people can't keep their hats on in a church.

In fact, certain denominations would expect that you DID keep your hat on. I've been in Orthodox churches where it's been expected that I covered my head. And women always used to wear hats for church weddings.

You know bishops wear hats, right?

Did Jesus disapprove of whooping or something?

I can't see the harm in it personally. Why do people need to be all quiet and reverent just because they're in a church? In what way is it disrespectful, exactly?

You’re spot on with this.

I grew up in a religious Christian household (I’m not religious myself) and to attend church as a woman without a hat was seen as a sign of disrespect. You only have to look at the royal family when they are attending church. The women always wear hats

yabu- who gets to decide what behaviour is ok in a church?

theyre used for events because they are so underused as churches, they’ve been hired out. The religious connection is irrelevant.