Have you given up going to church but used to attend ?

Absolutely, I was a reader at my old church, moved with a letter of recommendation, but was totally ignored and the services were so cold and uncaring I sadly gave up.

I recently heard that the new Vicar asked his Diocese to allow his church to forgo their tithe- which helps poorer churches, as his church was 'doing very well thankyou' and shouldn't have to support less successful churches! Not my idea of Christianity

we attended our local village church for over 40 years, choir members, family weddings, funerals and more until we got a new vicar. Dreadful man, who incidentally is no longer in the church. The latest one is equally unwelcoming and very happy clappy, not interesyed in the older members of the congregation at all. All sense of community lost. Very sad.

I went to church regularly till I was about 20 then thought ‘What is this all about?’ I guess I subscribe to the basic tenets of Christianity (and most of the major religions, it must be said) but can’t go along with the mythology.

Nor do I agree with the church’s elevated position in modern society. It just doesn’t fit, somehow.

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I used to go to Church regularly. As my husband became more disabled, our attendance grew less, though we still had home Communion.
I miss the hymns and the traditional C of E services, and since we have recently separated, I might look at going to Church again. Much will depend on the welcome (or otherwise) I receive.

Floradora9

In our town of 6,000 or so people we used to have lots of churches but they are slowly closing . I cannot say it upsets me because I feel they have outlived their time . I went to church every week as a child not with my parents but with an aunt . I joined the church and was a Sunday School teacher and was married in the same church . After we had children we went to church most weeks and sent the children off to Sunday school and they maintained their link with the same chuch until going off to university. We moved house and I went to church in the new place for a time but found it so unwelcoming and disliked the minister's attitude so much that we severed all links with it . I do not know how churches keep going with the same old forula of services with nothing to attract young people . I feel those running food banks , Samaritans etc. are doing far more good than those attending church but doing no good for the comunity. I felt a real sense of community at one time in our church but no longer .

You do realise that Christianity is the umbrella of the churches that run the services you about? See below

Foodbanks = Trussel group (Christian)

Debt support and help CAP (Christians Against Poverty)

REFLECT (Christian Church umbrella, advisory and support with crisis pregnancy)

Dayspring CBT under the Christian Church umbrella

RESTORE: It has varying names in other places. Supported housing/generic to stop
vulnerable people being homeless

Generic: most churches have other support groups and ancillary groups.

Our church is about serving the community. Many are today. There are still certainly churches stuck in the main stream Christian way.

Our Church is an independent. My faith is Omnist (truth and truthes in all) and unconventional

Mine is of the perennial tradition before Henry the VIII. This is based on the mystics and desert father's. Through the inner life not man made control. Fr Richard Rohr is one of the best speakers on this who is a Franciscan monk

Essentially my faith started with 12 step spirituality 20 years ago, which led me into the Christian centre I'm a member of.

Fortunately I'm allowed to explore and find what works for me in my Christian fellowship.

I live a spiritual life listening to much from Christian, Buddhism, psychology and non duality. Faith is not straightforward black and white

We used to have to go to confession every Thursday ready for Holy Communion on Friday. Sometimes, I had no sins to confess so I would make one up,as I knew the priest wouldn't believe me. I would then add 'I told a lie' and the priest would absolve me and send me off to do my penance, three Hail Marys or whatever. So in effect, the church taught me to lie.

The church has been a constant all my life, and I can't imagine life without it. We also have a food bank in the church and have unity with other churches in the town. We also try to help those in need and collect for good causes. But it has been noticeable that some people have not returned to church since lockdown. All Masses are live streamed too, but that is supposed to be for the housebound now. There is a sad shortage of youngsters. I don't know what the answer is there. It is a pity not to have some sort of spiritual life, I think.

I was brought up a strong atheist/humanist.

I attended the school assembly, our headteacher taught love not judgment. Despite my upbringing, I loved the hymns and listened to the readings. The school choir, one year, did a production of the Messiah. I cried when I sung it sometimes but didnt know why. Everyday we said the Lord's Prayer and there was a lot of " The lord is my Shepard". ( and a bit too much of St Paul telling me what to do especially wives obey your husbands.)

I didn't go on a search. But when I was about 34 I found myself singing the hymns I'd learnt at school. I could never believe that "God" was a sort of person, who had the power to intervene in our personal lives, nor life after death.

It was a feeling, a feeling of something in my heart, something in us yet beyond us too, the spiritual at work.

So I hied me to the local C of E church. It could never have worked for me, because of the the creed. I was also very familiar with alternative faith ways like meditation and studying texts like the Upanishads and the Tao Te Ching.

Not surprisingly therefore I took myself off to a Quaker Meeting for Worship, (I'd met Quakers in the Peace Movement in the 1960's as my parents were involved with Quakers on that).......sitting quietly on a circle waiting on each other in love and if someone gave ministry, which could be personal, a poem, a reading fro the Bible or the Quaker handbook written over 400 years Quaker Faith and Practice. I felt like coming home.
I know Quaker who does not have a commitment to faith in action (unless illness gets in the way or you are one of the few called to a mystical life.

If I wish to bear you up in my thoughts I will say (as appropriate of course) "I am holding you in the Light" We have no creed, no ministers, and women have always had a strong role.

After my Christian start school wise, I find myself often drawn to the music and texts it has engendered, but not solely that. Quaker views vary greatly, but one of our key ideas is to be open to the Light from wherever we find it. We are searchers.

I have thought and studied God and the history of God and dislike that sort of Supreme Being, and think He is potentially a dangerous idea .

Colonisation of other people's lands, slavery, and genocide have all been ratified by God.

And they were wrong, wrong, wrong.

I went till I left home. After some time I went back. Wherever was the book of common.prayer, the King James bible? Why all the handshaking when I went for some spiritual space? Have not been.back.

I was raised Catholic; went to Catholic school (although no nuns or uniforms, it was quite progressive) and mass regularly. Dad never went, but we went with Mum. Although religious, she disagreed with many teachings of the church, and we had discussions about it. Their thoughts on divorce, birth control etc. was questioned. I agree.

I brought my kids to mass, and they all did their communion and confirmation, but after that I left it up to them. None of them attend mass. I do not attend either, for the above reasons. I have sat through some sermons thinking if I was brave enough, I should just get up and walk out. We've had some priests that I really didn't like, and I don't think they were good men.

So I guess I am a believer in a higher being, but not necessarily as the bible tells us, nor do I believe 'the Church' should make all the rules for morality, when they have done so much wrong in the past.

But I do take comfort in being in a beautiful church, and communal singing of hymns. Don't know if that makes any sense.

I went to Church as a child. I am like a few of you where I prefer the old traditional hymns rather than the modern ones. My local church has a more modern service which puts me off from going.

Religion is daft.

I find comfort in much of traditional religion and believe in God. I am Church of England. I find it very sad when many clergy ignore the rich heritage and traditions of the christian faith which many have found helpful.

However, I believe the Church of England has got above itself. I don't believe in state religion, bishops in Parliament etc. It is clear the CofE is top heavy.

The recent news about sex abuse by clergy and the appalling way bishops have played it down to save their reputation really shocks me. I will support the local church but never the Church of England as an institution beyond the parish.

Except for weddings, funerals and Christmas Carol services, I haven’t set foot in a church* since being confirmed in my teens - and that was really a social thing, in the days of Sundays being so deadly with everything closed - at least I met a few friends for the Sunday comfirmation session before Evensong.

I’m an agnostic I suppose, and TBH if there was a really lovely old church nearby, like the one near a dd (she doesn’t go) I might go for the peaceful atmosphere and hymn singing - I still love a lot of the old hymns. Readings from the King James Bible would be good too. I know I have have no right to an opinion, but I hate the trite modern version - the old language is (to me) infinitely preferable.

*I do sometimes use the cafe in our town centre church though - lovely and peaceful when the shops and streets are hectic - especially around Christmas time. Beautiful stained glass, too.

I am a practising Christian. Church has been a big part of my life all my life. Christianity is about love and hope and l am sorry so many people have been put off it.

I go most weeks. I and like the quiet when I can just sit pray and think.

Monica, I was going to post something, but you beat me to it. I'm an Irish, Catholic girl....what MOnica said.
.

I started attending church after returned from abroad some years ago. I envied others who had such strong belief in God and faith. I am so glad I went back to church as I have met lots of lovely people locally and there is a sense of belonging - we all need to believe in something and I think it can bring us comfort in these testing times.

Charleygirl5

Floradora I come from an Irish/catholic background on my mother's side, my father went to a Church of Scotland church each week.

I went to a boarding school run by nuns and they finished me off, church x2 a day every day of the week.

I was around 17 when one Sunday at home I told my mother I was not going to church with her. She could hardly take me there kicking and screaming but apart from weddings etc I not entered a church since.

A#tellmeaboutit! I too was under Catholic control forced to church etc under duress of a slapping silly if I dared protest! Even when I got married first time I lied to panelling him I still went as did my sis. I finally stopped lying when I moved 30 miles away and he couldn't check!!! Now? Not bloody likely! I even regret sending DS to Catholic schools, they were bad but not as, and education centred around fairy tales too so not the best. I'd never ever ram my beliefs down anyone's throat and detest those who do!

#lied TO PA TELLING HIM
Are we ever gonna get editing like normal sites?!?!

CBBL

I used to go to Church regularly. As my husband became more disabled, our attendance grew less, though we still had home Communion.
I miss the hymns and the traditional C of E services, and since we have recently separated, I might look at going to Church again. Much will depend on the welcome (or otherwise) I receive.

Your sentiments remind me of when I was alone for a period of 6months during bitter divorce, without any family / DS included. I went along to every type of church in area in was living at time to find some reason to life maybe? I was ignored by C of E congregation at coffee am after service.Inwas grilled by Catholics as to which parish I was from? Then it order and shunned when I said I was going through painful separation period ( they almost threw me out!)
I was welcomed and fussed over at one place, seated with the ladies given lovely food and drinks of gorgeous coffee, one lady held my hand another put her arms about me as I told them why I was there visiting their place if worship, they made me feel loved , worthwhile and hopeful. I loved them all for their generosity and kindness their genuine concern. Where was I? The local synagogue on a Saturday morning!! Never have I felt so welcome And relevant. Weird thing? I found out years after that my birth dad was Jewish!!! Only after family all dead and adoption opened upmwas that seen by me.

ExDancer

Yes.
I don't like the 'peace be with you' part of the service. Some people go so far as kissing strangers - sorry, not for me.

I didn’t like this. It seemed so false and frankly embarrassing. I say my prayers every night and feel there is a loving presence that listens.