Save our Churches !!!!!

[nanny jan]

Toni,

My son hasn't had anyone knocking on the door; before it became a home the church had been used as a furniture store I think so i guess it was 30/40 years since anyone married there.

Nanny Jan

[Lynn H]

I am very pleased that so many people are in favor of saving are churches, the responce has been great. I also found out where my GGGGrandmother was buried and when i went to see the grave, it had been paved over, So, Where is she now? Thanx Lynn H.

[ludovica]

As a person who takes Communion twice a week, every week; obviously I am all in favour of saving our Churches.

Also obviously, I'd like to encourage those who feel strongly about Church preservation to take direct action by actually attending Church and preventing these closures occurring in the first place.

Jesus saves people AND Churches!

[kerryb]

Good point Ludovica

If the churches were full, they couldn't be closed.   

I'verecently started attending a church that was once used for another purpose (just for a change) it was once the town State Hall and now a growing and thriving evangelical church.  Makes a pleasant change 

Kerry

[Elliebob]

Hear hear Ludovica!

Ellen

[ludovica]

Good point Ludovica

If the churches were full, they couldn't be closed.   

I'verecently started attending a church that was once used for another purpose (just for a change) it was once the town State Hall and now a growing and thriving evangelical church.  Makes a pleasant change 

Kerry

That is good news KerryB
I am a former atheist who has been led to Christ partly by the inspiration of learning  about my ancestors and the incredible forbearance, patience and courage they displayed in their day to day lives- just to carry on, through infant mortality, terrible poverty and living/working conditions almost beyond our imagining.

Church closures cut us off from our spiritual history; making an island of the present day which prevents us from seeing the past; understanding progress( or lack of it) or empathising with our predecessors

[kerryb]

Ludovica

What has amazed and pleased me is finding out that so many of my ancestors were non conformists for so many generations and the faith has carried on through the generations right to the present and the next one through my nieces and nephews, like a genetic trait 

Kerry

[ankerdine]

What an interesting thread!

I visited Stoneykirk, Wigtownshire, churchyard earlier this year to search for monumental inscriptions. There was a very large Victorian (I think) church in the centre of the churchyard which was completely boarded up. I thought it such a pity when you see all the headstones around about. I must say though that the churchyard had been beautifully trimmed and looked after. It seemed to me that Stoneykirk appeared to be a fairly well inhabited village/town with considerable new housing in places.

I noticed on a recent trip to Swansea that an old chapel/church had been converted into a Mosque so I suppose that building is still serving a community nearby.

I often wonder what it would be like to live in an old converted church. I think it would be spooky but my sister-in-law (a staunch Baptist) says she would feel very safe in such a home.

[Lydart]

I think it wouldn't be spooky at all !    After all, an old church has seen people being baptised, worshipping every week and singing praise and happy hymns, marriages .... and only a small number of funerals compared to the other things.  And even a funeral can be a happy occasion. 

I wouldn't mind living in a church, but would prefer it to be left as a church with people using it !