Tell me the cons of living next to a church....

[Twirl]

Thinking about buying a house next to a church..... what negatives can you think of?

You're welcome. Best of luck with the house searching

The bells? Possibly every fifteen fecking minutes not that I'm bitter

Bad experience badtasteflump?
There is a dropped kerb and a single yellow line outside the house.

Yes but at least I was only renting at the time - an idylic little cottage next to a chocolate-box church, with ridiculously low rent! Naive, moi?

Oh dear!

We lived opposite a church for 11 years up until I was 18, the bell used to sound before service, but only for general services not wedding or funerals. That was no earlier the 9am so not a problem.

Ours was one of a terraced row of houses looking out directly onto the church so parking was a nightmare but my Mum used to put traffic cones outside our house so no one would park there but with off road parking you should be fine.

I used to work for a conveyancing company and chancel liabilty was one of the things that people used to do searches for on home information packs, so glad its been mentioned. Our house was housing association so we didnt have to think about it thankfully.

There is a modern evangelical church at the end of my road. It is quiet most of the week, but on Sundays in summer they keep the doors wide open during the services and there is loud amplified music blasting out - it's not exactly All Things Bright and Beautiful. There are also kids running in and out constantly and across the road, which can be a bit scary when driving past, and the cars tend to just stop outside in the middle of the road to drop off and pick up passengers (lots of elderly) which can be annoying when I'm in a hurry. But on the whole, there are worse neighbours to have.

I live by a church. The biggest downside is the bell-ringing which is very loud indeed. Sunday morning isn't so bad as it's only half an hour, but 2 hrs on a Monday evening (practice) is rather trying.

The clock chimes every hour but that's not a problem and like others I find it soothing, especially if awake in the night.

Parking isn't so bad here because most people walk up and there is parking for shops in the vicinity. But occasionally you can't move your car because there is a huge crowd gathered outside for a wedding/christening/etc.

Weddings and funerals are fantastic opportunities for people-watching. Until you have sat and gawped, you have no idea of the wide variety of styles, guests, outfits, cars... Get a cup of tea and settle in.

The bell-ringing isn't actually bad, and I think the church would lose out if it stopped. But it is Very Very Loud. Louder than the noise from the pub next to the church.

My Dad rings the 2 bells in his local church along with another old bloke.

The 2 bells had not been rung together in living memory and all the dogs started barking when they first had a go.

We almost rented a house right next to York Minster - now that is very very loud. If you want to get a sense of what it might be like to live next to a church on a Sunday I suggest you listen to this with the volume turned right up.

The whole chancel liability is a scam. The company who do the searches, who tell you if there may be a liability, is the company who sell the insurance. Massive conflict of interest. The only people who have ever been affected are one couple who had the liability specifically mentioned in their deeds. If it's not in your deeds you don't need to worry about it. Even if the church did try and claim against you (which they won't) the amount they could claim is spread across lots of houses and would be very small.

And the loophole which means there could be a liability is being closed. From autumn 2013 new provisions come into place which mean that if it isn't in your deeds it can no longer be enforced, even if it is recorded elsewhere.

I suppose there is a risk at present, as the Church tidies up its land records it might discover things, and any liabilities might in turn be attached before the deadline.

Rhubarb - i think all things bright and beautiful would put me off more!

there's a building across the road from our church, above a pub, that hosts a church on Sunday mornings. they have the windows open, and when we leave our service, it's all very loud rock band type music and very loud shouting praise over the sound system.
I have to say, though, although it's loud, it's really lovely, because they are obviously enjoying themselves. :)

nocake and Edith - that's very interesting.

We have lived very near a church for nearly a year. It is a very active church there is something on in the hall most nights. Which is good as it isnt far to get the kids to rainbows, guides ect. We did take out chancel insurance but in the whole scheme of things it is only about £60. We have more problems from college and nearby school.

I think your worries from parking / being blocked in come more from activities during the week, than people who are parking to stay a couple of hours. We live next to a Drs surgery, and it stuns me the number of people who think it's OK to park across our driveway, blocking us in or out, who, when I drag them out of the waiting room, always say "I was only going to be a minute". Er, it never is 'just a minute' and even if it were, it doesn't help if you are blocking the road trying to get into your drive but unable.
Why not knock on the doors of a few neighbours and ask them how much of an issue it is ?

Twirl - churches have to register the land that is potentially liable by 2013

Does the church have a bell-ringing practice night. Our area usually has them in the evening right on kiddies bedtime!

A friend had issues with inconsiderate parkers blocking her driveway but other than that all was fine.

I believe that the chancel liability only applies to medieval churches

Info here www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/research-guides/chancel-repairs.htm

The church behind our house has "band" (bell ringing) practise every friday night 7.30-9.30pm. I'm used to it now and actually rather like it. We have to have all the windows and doors shut though. Strangely I manage to sleep through the Sunday morning bells . The bells have never stopped DS going to sleep either. No parking issues either (but we also have 3 pubs outside our house with car parks and).

Wow, thank you for all the replies! I guess I need to spend lots of time on the road to see when the activities are and how bad the parking is..... You have all really helped me, thank you

Good luck Twirl - hope it works out for you. I have absolutely no problems living next door to the church. It just varies from church to church. As someone else said earlier, nothing goes on later that about 10pm (the scouts waiting to be picked up are the only noise I hear).