What to wear to church?

[celticclan]

Do people dress up for church these days?

I want to attend a service at my local Catholic Church (affluent area). Can I just wear my normal clothes or will I feel out of place.

When I lived at home my mother did not approve of me going to Mass in jeans but then she goes to church in her "Sunday Best" and gets changed when she gets home.

In cooler weather I go in jeans and boots or tunic and leggings - whatever I feel comfortable in.

During the summer I tend to wear dresses - just because I'm a SAHM and would be unlikely to wear a frock at any other time unless I was on holiday.

My advice would be to go in whatever you feel comfortable in. People will be wearing all sorts of different outfits.

I would say normal clothes are fine.
If it's a special occasion (First Holy Communion, Christening,Confirmation etc) then people would generally dress up a bit more.
No one will judge you on your clothes.

I live in skinny jeans, is that ok?

I will be going my own. When I have been to a CoE church I have been ignored. Are Catholic Churches the same or will the Priest want to talk to me? I won't be going up for communion, will that be odd?

Normal clothes should be fine for a normal Sunday mass. I wear jeans etc, whatever I would normally wear. It won't be strange not to take Communion and it is common for people not to, and if you are not catholic and haven't taken your first holy communion you are not allowed to anyway (not that they have any way of telling by looking at you!). You can usually go up for a blessing from the priest if you want to when others go for communion, by crossing your arms over your chest to indicate you are not taking communion, but are in no way obliged to do this and just sitting quietly is totally acceptable.

You'll be fine. I'd be surprised if you stand out. If you wanted a blessing at communion then the usual way is to queue up with everybody else with your arms crossed. It was described as "The log flume brace" on a thread here a couple of weeks ago. It is also perfectly fine to stay sitting in the pew if you don't want a blessing.

My priest goes out to the main door during the last hymn. He will say a few words to some people on the way out of church but it is easy to sidestep this if you aren't comfortable with it. At my church you would be lucky to fight your way through the assortment of old biddies elderly ladies of the parish to get near him.

normal clothes are fine. Dcs still enjoy the novelty of seeing their teachers not in teacher clothes.

Normal clothes at our catholic church in an affluent area - I wear my standard jeans, t-shirt, fleece. There is a range of styles among the congregation, smart-casual is probably safest if you are unsure.

Anything you normally wear. I never dress up for church. God is interested in our hearts not outward appearances.

Sorry to hear about your experience at an unfriendly church. Can I suggest you also try a modern, younger church? Most are very friendly and you'll have a good chance of meeting others of a similar age/circumstances to yourself.

If you tell us where you are - you don't need to be specific, just county or city - I can give you some links to the sort of places I mean.

Normal clothes will be fine.

You say 'no one speaks to you' but do you speak to other people? Over the years I have attended a lot of different churches for various reasons but I always smile, say good morning and shake hands with whoever I sit to which gets a conversation started, I don't think I have ever been to a church where no one speaks to me.

As the priest (C of E not RC obviously) I try and spot new people and go and say 'hello and welcome' but I know some people appreciate this and others hate it as they just wanted to be anonymous which is fair enough but hard to judge. I stand at the door at the end of the main church service and try and say hi to everyone. Those who want to slip away do.

Dress code is whatever you are comfortable in. If it is an old church layer up as it can be cooler inside than you expect.

If you want to check out the church before you go have a look on the Mystery Worshipper on Ship of Fools.

shipoffools.com/mystery/