Conflicting factors in choosing a church?

[LittleBabyPigsus]

I currently attend a liberal Anglo-Catholic church (pro female clergy, pro LGBTQ people). It suits me well liturgically-speaking but there's nobody else my age there apart from my housemates (I am 24). I've been going to the homegroup of the local liberal evangelical church, but not their services, just so I can socialise with people a bit more, but all the other women there are into twiggy shit from very different backgrounds to me. Problem is, in my town you've only got a choice between very high Anglican or very evangelical/low Anglican, and other churches aren't really for me theologically (for female clergy but also Mary and the saints). What would you do?

I would stick with the church you are at - who knows what will happen next but I was pretty much the only person under 40 in my church for a while, but gradually gradually every so often someone else under 40 would come one Sunday or another and some of them started coming more regularly. You could also be surprised by how young-at-heart some of the older people there are - many of them would have been 24 themselves at some point and may even feel like they still are. I would focus on being wholeheartedly part of that church and not worrying about the age demographics of your fellows.

I have been there for a couple of years so I know the other people quite well. They are really not very young-at-heart, and are mostly nearer to 70 than 40. It's not about worrying about the age demographics, it's about having nothing in common with the other people there. My church doesn't really have activities outside of church services (the congregation is relatively small and we are not rich, not helped by a broken heating system right now).

When it comes down to it no church is perfect. You can find one with great social activities but the preaching is rubbish. Or one with great preaching but the lead musician's partner a complete diva who couldn't hold a tune in a bucket. Or the one down the road will have beautiful liturgy well thought through and delivered but the social life is zip.

Before I was paid to turn up to the same church each Sunday I would mix and match. Most of my time was at one church but I would do what you are doing and find different house groups to join or I'd go the local full on charismatic place which did a brilliant healing service and I could enjoy the music and avoid the sermons that were part of the main Sunday offering but way too conservative for me. These days I head off to the local cathedral where someone else planned, puts one and clears up the service - lovely!

Or you could look at this a bit sideways. Is there something you are really interested in where there might be other Christians locally who share that passion? Then use networking and facebook to get together? Lots of Fresh Expressions of Church started that way.

I am of quite a sacramental stance and need a weekly Eucharist, which unfortunately limits things a bit! I am trying to get some different things started with some Christian Aid resources but nobody is interested :(