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Religion/spirituality

Has anyone else heard of being "Churched" after the birth of a baby.?

(115 Posts)
Grumpyoldwoman Sun 04-Sept-11 10:53:28

Following the Baptism thread remined me of this.

When I gave birth to our first daughter in 1972 I spent a week in hospital (as you did then) and when she was about 10 days old I proudly set off with my new baby in her gorgeous coachbuilt Silver Cross pram to visit my mother who lived about half a mile away.

My grandma (who I adored) was staying with my Mum and the excitement I felt when I rang the door bell was immense.

Mum made a fuss of baby and as I manouvered the pram into Mum's front porch ..Grandma had a word with Mum.

What transpired was such a shock and certainly dampened my euphoric mood.

Mum said I couldn't ''come in'' beacause I hadn't been ''churched'' shock

Apparently any woman who had just given birth was ''unclean'' until they had seen a vicar to say some ''special prayers'' with you. Therefore they cannot be allowed into someones house !!!

I couldn't believe what I was hearing and went home in floods of tears. My hubby was furious and although very mild mannered really told my Mum and Gran off and no more was ever said.
I just wondered if any of you had come across this barbaric nonsense.

My daughters were horrified when I told them after they had babies shock!!!

ninathenana Thu 05-Sept-13 22:22:40

I have never heard of this. Very odd, surely giving birth is a very natural thing. How can it make you 'unclean' in the eyes of God

j08 Thu 05-Sept-13 22:18:03

Have they stopped "zombie-ing" old threads?

Galen Thu 05-Sept-13 22:15:59

hmm

Ana Thu 05-Sept-13 22:10:10

Crikey, this is a blast from the past!

What on earth made you choose this topic out of all the others you could have chosen, floriana? confused

floriana Thu 05-Sept-13 22:06:40

To be positive, what's wrong with giving thanks for being alive after childbirth and having a hopefully, healthy child? Some rituals in life are helpful and are missed now.
As far as unclean is concerned, for this particular act, I would just put that out of my mind.
But, to be frank, after a lifetime of painful and heavy periods, I think they were unclean and shudder when I pass the sanitary pads section.........!

Anagram Mon 02-Apr-12 20:28:27

Don't let it get to you, ladies! Ignore it.

Annobel Mon 02-Apr-12 20:24:48

Hi Grannylin, good to have you back. flowers

Grannylin Mon 02-Apr-12 20:22:22

I've been away and have to say it certainly feels a bit skewed at the mo!

Annobel Mon 02-Apr-12 20:16:01

Elegran, flowers. For the first time. I am feeling uncomfortable on Gransnet.

granbunny Mon 02-Apr-12 20:15:24

you might indeed find my style strangely familiar - i have no idea what goes on in your minds. but i have not been here until recently, so you are making false connections.

Carol Mon 02-Apr-12 20:12:24

Quite right Elegran

Elegran Mon 02-Apr-12 20:09:21

If there is no reaction, there is no fun. Ignore it.

Every so often someone turns up and tries to rile the regular posters. They must have very boring lives if they need to break into other people's conversations to get a bit of excitement.

Isn't it easy to sit at a computer and throw s* at people? Then when they tell you they don't like it, accuse them of bullying you?

Carol Mon 02-Apr-12 19:15:04

Yes Greatnan

Greatnan Mon 02-Apr-12 19:13:04

Does anybody else find Granbunny's style strangely familiar? I don't think we should keep her from finding a more interesting forum.

Anagram Mon 02-Apr-12 19:04:43

Gremlins (or some such!) in the works....

jeni Mon 02-Apr-12 19:03:04

So have I

Carol Mon 02-Apr-12 19:00:29

I am finding this unpleasant so have expressed my views 'upstairs!'

jeni Mon 02-Apr-12 18:54:09

Apparently, I'm a bully?
This is a very odd contributed!

Carol Mon 02-Apr-12 18:41:18

Ahhh! I hadn't read this thread recently - it's all starting to fall into place!

granbunny Mon 02-Apr-12 18:38:23

let me see, that would be jeni, greatnan, annobel, nightowl. some of those names seem familiar....

it's very dull here. its hard to find a thread of any interest at all.

nightowl Mon 02-Apr-12 18:01:38

granbunny are you real? confused

Annobel Mon 02-Apr-12 17:13:37

That took guts, Greatnan. smile

Greatnan Mon 02-Apr-12 14:16:01

Yes, I had noticed, but I am quite happy to engage in civilised debate!
I once proposed the motion 'God is irrelevant' at my C of E teacher-training college. I lost, but I still say it was because most of the audience were born again Christians!

jeni Mon 02-Apr-12 14:00:34

Has anybody else noticed that gran bunny seems to be picking up on old threads, all with a similar theme?

jeni Mon 02-Apr-12 13:55:21

Well???????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!