Twice in my life I've lived next door to a church - it wasn't the bells or music that disturbed me; it was the air conditioning system and its continuous hum. I think sometimes you just have to move to get the peace and quiet you want.
Next, the issue will be the noise and invasion of drones! Did you see that story about the lady who knocked one down with a rock?, and the Judge made her pay the drone owner. I would hate that so much, having a drone buzzing over me - and my dog would go nuts at the sound. I am not a good rock thrower, but I could see wanting to buy a slingshot.
Next, the issue will be the noise and invasion of drones! Did you see that story about the lady who knocked one down with a rock?, and the Judge made her pay the drone owner. I would hate that so much, having a drone buzzing over me - and my dog would go nuts at the sound. I am not a good rock thrower, but I could see wanting to buy a slingshot.
2
Do not go to the Pastor of the noisy church, visit the Pastor's ultimate superior. Explain that the noise from the disrespectful church keeps potential new members from joining and the upcoming picketing and resulting bad press will only add to the woes. While you're picketing photograph the people who do show up for services. They won't know why you're doing this, but they'll probably be uneasy about this, and perhaps choose to worship elsewhere. An attendance drop will trigger action from Church leadership faster than "Christian Values" would. It is a business, after all.
2
Escalating the complaint is often a good idea, but not all pastors have (earthly) superiors. A church that plays music to the outside public like this could very well be a one-off, answering to no hierarchy.
I would also be careful about any actions that could make the church members suspicious or fearful. Such "persecution" might even backfire, making the members' commitments stronger.
I would also be careful about any actions that could make the church members suspicious or fearful. Such "persecution" might even backfire, making the members' commitments stronger.
1
'...Houses of worship are exempt from much of the city’s noise code...'
As they are in most of the US, in violation of the First Amendment, which states the government shall remain neutral in matters of religion.
That this has been interpreted for more than 50 years to mean that religious institutions are exempt from the laws that govern all others, including the tax laws, is incomprehensible.
As they are in most of the US, in violation of the First Amendment, which states the government shall remain neutral in matters of religion.
That this has been interpreted for more than 50 years to mean that religious institutions are exempt from the laws that govern all others, including the tax laws, is incomprehensible.
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Not to mention zoning laws, where churches can build in ways that regular citizens and businesses may not. We suffer from a monstrosity of a church addition -- a forbidding-looking, windowless sharp-angled black set of geometric shapes, grafted onto a nice-looking traditional brick church with a white steeple; the addition butts right up to the sidewalks on two sides -- that we were powerless to stop, due to the "Dover Amendment." The thing looks so hostile, one has to wonder why they wanted to build in a community they seem to hate so much.
2
Many cities have NO exemption for church noise. Many cities have cited and prosecuted and even jailed priest and minsters for noise violations.
No one is above the law. Noise is NOT a right.
No one is above the law. Noise is NOT a right.
One more step for the person with the noisy-church problem:
Sure, go ahead and speak to the pastor...who, if he is not an idiot, knows full well the music disturbs the neighborhood but tells himself it is saving souls.
When nothing changes, get together with your neighbors on Sundays and picket the church. Make sure you're there when the congregants leave the building. Make a fuss. Pick out some good Bible passages and make signs. Embarrass them into paying attention to the wants and needs of others. Oh, and be sure to take children with you so they know it's *families*, which some people find much more important than individuals.
Best of luck. Noise is a wearing, wearying, harmful thing to have to put up with in your own home. I know this because my neighbors across the street talk and carry on at the tops of their voices out on the street, know they are disturbing many people, and don't care. The cops don't care, either. At least this congregation should be shame-able.
Sure, go ahead and speak to the pastor...who, if he is not an idiot, knows full well the music disturbs the neighborhood but tells himself it is saving souls.
When nothing changes, get together with your neighbors on Sundays and picket the church. Make sure you're there when the congregants leave the building. Make a fuss. Pick out some good Bible passages and make signs. Embarrass them into paying attention to the wants and needs of others. Oh, and be sure to take children with you so they know it's *families*, which some people find much more important than individuals.
Best of luck. Noise is a wearing, wearying, harmful thing to have to put up with in your own home. I know this because my neighbors across the street talk and carry on at the tops of their voices out on the street, know they are disturbing many people, and don't care. The cops don't care, either. At least this congregation should be shame-able.
10
There are two townhouses on a street in my upscale neighborhood: one is empty and neglected, though it is owned by an individual who has allowed it to become dilapidated, with broken windows, architectural elements falling down, ivy covering much of the back, which has breathtaking views of Manhattan. It is a prime example of demolition by neglect.
Immediately next door is a building which was recently for sale for $15 million (reduced from $16 million). I believe it remains unsold. I wonder why?
About the church music, I believe the Times ran an article in the last year or so about a church on Park Avenue South whose pastor did just this, playing the chimes at all hours of the day, interrupting nearby resident's lives. The pastor came from another church in a far less densely populated parish, where such sounds were far less intrusive. I believe he eventually saw the light, that one person's religious music was another's noise.
Immediately next door is a building which was recently for sale for $15 million (reduced from $16 million). I believe it remains unsold. I wonder why?
About the church music, I believe the Times ran an article in the last year or so about a church on Park Avenue South whose pastor did just this, playing the chimes at all hours of the day, interrupting nearby resident's lives. The pastor came from another church in a far less densely populated parish, where such sounds were far less intrusive. I believe he eventually saw the light, that one person's religious music was another's noise.
10
I live on the same block as the Park Avenue and 38th Street church that was the subject of previous articles a couple of years ago. Letters to the pastor were ignored. He actually referred to the writers of the letters from the pulpit and in his Sunday newsletter as "anti-Christian". The problem was solved only when area residents went directly to his superiors at the diocese. To be frank I'm not sure if even this would have worked without the help of the articles that were published in the NY Times describing the dispute between the church and local residents. I suspect this bad press did more than all our local complaints. We now hear church bells ring at noon, 3 pm and 6 pm which is fine, a good compromise.
3
I live by the town square in the little town of Bristol, RI, which puts my house within arm’s reach of at least five local churches. In the spring and summer when windows are open, it sometimes seems they are actively competing with each other to dominate the neighborhood.
This generally doesn't bother me much, with one exception: recordings of bells that are non-chromatic, and can only roughly approximate chord progressions from well-known music.
One in particular drives me nuts; a version of the chorus from Beethoven's Ninth symphony that only uses two chords: I and V. As a music major, it's like getting a root canal every time it plays.
I haven't even mentioned that I live directly across from Bristol’s historic Train of Artillery, which starts firing the howitzers at 6:00 a.m. every 4th of July. All complaints aside, it's a wonderful place to live, and accepting the neighbors’ sounds of celebration is a small price to pay for living two blocks from the bay in such a lovely community.
This generally doesn't bother me much, with one exception: recordings of bells that are non-chromatic, and can only roughly approximate chord progressions from well-known music.
One in particular drives me nuts; a version of the chorus from Beethoven's Ninth symphony that only uses two chords: I and V. As a music major, it's like getting a root canal every time it plays.
I haven't even mentioned that I live directly across from Bristol’s historic Train of Artillery, which starts firing the howitzers at 6:00 a.m. every 4th of July. All complaints aside, it's a wonderful place to live, and accepting the neighbors’ sounds of celebration is a small price to pay for living two blocks from the bay in such a lovely community.
5
Visit the pastor? You are kidding. Churches don't believe that they should have to follow any rules but they believe we should have to live with theirs. It is time for government to tell churches to pay up and joint the rest of humanity living in this country which is supposed to be a country of laws. No one or institution should be exempt from following the law churches and banks included.
24
"I live about a block from a church that plays music three times a day, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., broadcasting it to the entire neighborhood"
Let's see...what religion would that be that plays "music" three times a day, ostensibly to remind their faithful of the importance of prayer?
Give me a few moments and I'll think about it......
Let's see...what religion would that be that plays "music" three times a day, ostensibly to remind their faithful of the importance of prayer?
Give me a few moments and I'll think about it......
2
Which religion?
1
Is it was Islam you were referring to, it would be five times a day.
But it is a good point to make that if some religious institutions are exempt for noise laws, all are exempt.
I am not the only person who thinks none should be exempt.
But it is a good point to make that if some religious institutions are exempt for noise laws, all are exempt.
I am not the only person who thinks none should be exempt.
5
PF, I believe ex-B is referring to Muslim calls to prayer, but I'm not certain.
Also, even if s/he is referring to Islam, um...??? Point not clear to me. I think the original question was genuinely about a church.
Also, even if s/he is referring to Islam, um...??? Point not clear to me. I think the original question was genuinely about a church.
5
It's in the interest of all neighbors to be neighborly. Churches can often take simple measures such as closing their windows, or stronger measures like soundproofing. Unfortunately, there are churches who feel that they are above the law because they are fighting Satan.
Check your local noise ordinance. Usually, churches are not given carte blanche, but a variance of a certain number of decibels. This variance is usually connected with worship services, i.e. not choir practice, and limited to between morning and 9 pm.
An easy way to measure decibels informally is to use a smartphone app. If the church is above that level, get your neighbors together and visit code enforcement at city hall with a copy of the noise ordinance and dates of the repeated violations.
Check your local noise ordinance. Usually, churches are not given carte blanche, but a variance of a certain number of decibels. This variance is usually connected with worship services, i.e. not choir practice, and limited to between morning and 9 pm.
An easy way to measure decibels informally is to use a smartphone app. If the church is above that level, get your neighbors together and visit code enforcement at city hall with a copy of the noise ordinance and dates of the repeated violations.
6
What about mosques that broadcast the call to prayer five times each day, starting in the middle of the night?
It once was that some man would chant it. Now it is pre-recorded and set to a timer for general and often very loud broadcast.
It once was that some man would chant it. Now it is pre-recorded and set to a timer for general and often very loud broadcast.
5
Apparently the many mosques in your area of Maryland cause you great distress. Or, maybe, this is a pet peeve and has nothing to do with this article.
8
Church music. Call 311 and make a noise complaint. We once had a congregation rent a house and set up their church inside. They were not good neighbors. Several days a week they decided they would proselytize by putting speakers in their windows and blasting their religious music. For hours and hours at a time. Individual complaints did nothing to stop them. Its illegal to blast amplified music without a permit - even for a religious congregation. Eventually their landlord kicked them out.
10
In the US we talk about "freedom of religion" when if fact, there is no freedom from religion!
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Rick Holtsclaw
Concerned Citizens Against Loud Motorcycles C-CALM - Facebook